rule

Definitions

1. 1adjective

   That which is prescribed or laid down as a guide for conduct or action; a governing direction for a specific purpose; an authoritative enactment; a regulation; a prescription; a precept; as, the rules of various societies; the rules governing a school; a rule of etiquette or propriety; the rules of cricket.

2. 2adjective

   Uniform or established course of things.

3. 3adjective

   Systematic method or practice; as, my ule is to rise at six o'clock.

4. 4adjective

   Ordibary course of procedure; usual way; comon state or condition of things; as, it is a rule to which there are many exeptions.

5. 5adjective

   Conduct in general; behavior.

6. 6adjective

   The act of ruling; administration of law; government; empire; authority; control.

7. 7adjective

   An order regulating the practice of the courts, or an order made between parties to an action or a suit.

8. 8adjective

   A determinate method prescribed for performing any operation and producing a certain result; as, a rule for extracting the cube root.

9. 9adjective

   A general principle concerning the formation or use of words, or a concise statement thereof; thus, it is a rule in England, that s or es , added to a noun in the singular number, forms the plural of that noun; but "man" forms its plural "men", and is an exception to the rule.

10. 10adjective

    A straight strip of wood, metal, or the like, which serves as a guide in drawing a straight line; a ruler.

11. 11adjective

    A measuring instrument consisting of a graduated bar of wood, ivory, metal, or the like, which is usually marked so as to show inches and fractions of an inch, and jointed so that it may be folded compactly.

12. 12adjective

    A thin plate of metal (usually brass) of the same height as the type, and used for printing lines, as between columns on the same page, or in tabular work.

13. 13adjective

    A composing rule. See under Conposing.

14. 14noun

    To control the will and actions of; to exercise authority or dominion over; to govern; to manage.

15. 15noun

    To control or direct by influence, counsel, or persuasion; to guide; -- used chiefly in the passive.

16. 16noun

    To establish or settle by, or as by, a rule; to fix by universal or general consent, or by common practice.

17. 17noun

    To require or command by rule; to give as a direction or order of court.

18. 18noun

    To mark with lines made with a pen, pencil, etc., guided by a rule or ruler; to print or mark with lines by means of a rule or other contrivance effecting a similar result; as, to rule a sheet of paper of a blank book.

19. 19intransitive verb

    To have power or command; to exercise supreme authority; -- often followed by over.

20. 20intransitive verb

    To lay down and settle a rule or order of court; to decide an incidental point; to enter a rule.

21. 21intransitive verb

    To keep within a (certain) range for a time; to be in general, or as a rule; as, prices ruled lower yesterday than the day before.

22. 22noun

    measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths

    Synonyms

    ruler
23. 23noun

    something regarded as a normative example

    "the convention of not naming the main character"

    "violence is the rule not the exception"

    Synonyms

    conventionformulanormalpattern
24. 24noun

    a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

    "it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast"

    "short haircuts were the regulation"

    Synonyms

    regulation
25. 25noun

    (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems

    "he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs"

    "he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials"

    Synonyms

    formula
26. 26noun

    a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system

    "the principle of the conservation of mass"

    "the principle of jet propulsion"

    Synonyms

    principle
27. 27noun

    a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct

    "their principles of composition characterized all their works"

    Synonyms

    principle
28. 28noun

    any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order

    "the rule of St. Dominic"

29. 29noun

    prescribed guide for conduct or action

    Synonyms

    prescript
30. 30noun

    directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted

    "he knew the rules of chess"

31. 31noun

    (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice

32. 32noun

    dominance or power through legal authority

    "France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa"

    "the rule of Caesar"

    Synonyms

    dominion
33. 33noun

    the duration of a monarch's or government's power

    "during the rule of Elizabeth"

34. 34verb

    keep in check

    "rule one's temper"

    Synonyms

    harnessrein
35. 35verb

    decide with authority

    "The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed"

    Synonyms

    decree
36. 36verb

    decide on and make a declaration about

    "find someone guilty"

    Synonyms

    find
37. 37verb

    mark or draw with a ruler

    "rule the margins"

38. 38verb

    exercise authority over; as of nations

    "Who is governing the country now?"

    Synonyms

    govern
39. 39verb

    be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance

    "Money reigns supreme here"

    "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"

    Synonyms

    dominatepredominateprevailreign
40. 40verb

    have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac