Noun
-
the body of members of an organization or group
"they polled their membership"
"they found dissension in their own ranks"
"he joined the ranks of the unemployed"
-
position in a social hierarchy
"the British are more aware of social status than Americans are"
- social station - social status - social rank -
the ordinary members of an organization (such as the enlisted soldiers of an army)
"the strike was supported by the union rank and file"
"he rose from the ranks to become a colonel"
- rank and file -
relative status
"his salary was determined by his rank and seniority"
-
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
"the entrance was guarded by ranks of policemen"
Verb
-
take precedence or surpass others in rank
-
assign a rank or rating to
"how would you rank these students?"
"The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide"
-
take or have a position relative to others
"This painting ranks among the best in the Western World"
Adjective
-
growing profusely
"rank jungle vegetation"
-
complete and without restriction or qualification
sometimes used informally as intensifiers
"absolute freedom"
"an absolute dimwit"
"a downright lie"
"out-and-out mayhem"
"an out-and-out lie"
"a rank outsider"
"many right-down vices"
"got the job through sheer persistence"
"sheer stupidity"
- out and out - right down -
conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
"a crying shame"
"an egregious lie"
"flagrant violation of human rights"
"a glaring error"
"gross ineptitude"
"gross injustice"
"rank treachery"
-
very offensive in smell or taste
"a rank cigar"
-
very fertile
producing profuse growth
"rank earth"