Rank /(răṉk)/

Rank

a.
  1. Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds.
    And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.
    — Gen. xli. 5.
  2. Raised to a high degree; violent; extreme; gross; utter; as, rank heresy.
  3. Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile; as, rank land.
  4. Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank-smelling rue.
  5. Strong to the taste.
  6. Inflamed with venereal appetite. [Obs.]

Phrases & Compounds
Rank modus
an excessive and unreasonable modus. See Modus, 3.
To set (the iron of a plane, etc.) rank
to set so as to take off a thick shaving.

Rank

adv.
  1. Rankly; stoutly; violently. [Obs.]
    That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell.

Rank

n.
  1. A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers.
    Many a mountain nigh Rising in lofty ranks, and loftier still.
  2. A line of soldiers ranged side by side; -- opposed to file. See 1st File, 1 (a). (Mil.)
    Fierce, fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war.
  3. Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or nobility; as, the rank of general; the rank of admiral.
  4. An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; as, ranks and orders of men; the highest and the lowest ranks of men, or of other intelligent beings.
  5. Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil or social life; station; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank.
    These all are virtues of a meaner rank.
  6. Elevated grade or standing; high degree; high social position; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank.

Phrases & Compounds
Rank and file
The whole body of common soldiers, including also corporals. In a more extended sense, it includes sergeants also, excepting the noncommissioned staff.
The ranks
the order or grade of common soldiers; as, to reduce a noncommissioned officer to the ranks.
To fill the ranks
to supply the whole number, or a competent number.
To take rank of
to have precedence over, or to have the right of taking a higher place than.

Rank

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Ranked; p. pr. & vb. n. Ranking

  1. To place abreast, or in a line.
  2. To range in a particular class, order, or division; to class; also, to dispose methodically; to place in suitable classes or order; to classify.
    Ranking all things under general and special heads.
    Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers.
    — Broome.
    Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft.
  3. To take rank of; to outrank. [U.S.]

Rank

v. i.
  1. To be ranged; to be set or disposed, as in a particular degree, class, order, or division.
    Let that one article rank with the rest.
  2. To have a certain grade or degree of elevation in the orders of civil or military life; to have a certain degree of esteem or consideration; as, he ranks with the first class of poets; he ranks high in public estimation.