rule
1. [ noun ] something regarded as a normative example
Synonyms: pattern convention formula normal
Examples:

"the convention of not naming the main character" "violence is the rule not the exception" "his formula for impressing visitors"

Related terms: practice code_of_conduct mores formularize
2. [ noun ] a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
Synonyms: regulation
Examples:

"it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast" "short haircuts were the regulation"

Related terms: concept restriction guidepost working_principle cy_pres regulate
3. [ verb ] (politics) exercise authority over; as of nations
Synonyms: govern
Examples:

"Who is governing the country now?"

Related terms: control reign dictate throne misgovern government government governor dominion
4. [ noun ] prescribed guide for conduct or action
Synonyms: prescript
Related terms: direction law regulation canon principle dictate order etiquette rubric rule_of_evidence bylaw protocol miranda_rule gigo golden_rule rule_book
5. [ verb ] decide with authority
Synonyms: decree
Examples:

"The King decreed that all first-born males should be killed"

Related terms: decide overrule rule_out preclude decree
6. [ noun ] (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
Synonyms: linguistic_rule
Related terms: concept morphological_rule grammatical_rule linguistics
7. [ noun ] a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
Synonyms: principle
Examples:

"their principles of composition characterized all their works"

Related terms: generalization pillar feng_shui Yin yang
8. [ verb ] be larger in number, quantity, or importance
Synonyms: dominate prevail predominate reign
Examples:

"Money reigns supreme here" "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"

Related terms: preponderate redound override overarch reign preponderance
9. [ verb ] decide on and make a declaration about
Synonyms: find
Examples:

"find someone guilty"

Related terms: pronounce find finding
10. [ verb ] mark or draw with a ruler; of margins
Related terms: draw
11. [ verb ] have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
Related terms: attach_to
12. [ noun ] directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted
Examples:

"he knew the rules of chess"

Related terms: direction ground_rule rule_book
13. [ noun ] Last name, frequency rank in the U.S. is 5649
14. [ noun ] (government) dominance or power through legal authority
Synonyms: dominion
Examples:

"France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa" "the rule of Caesar"

Related terms: dominance reign paramountcy suzerainty raj govern
15. [ noun ] a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system
Synonyms: principle
Examples:

: "the principle of the conservation of mass" "the principle of jet propulsion" "the right-hand rule for inductive fields"

Related terms: law le_chatelier's_law principle_of_liquid_displacement huygens'_principle_of_superposition law_of_parsimony naegele's_rule mass-energy_equivalence mass-action_principle localisation gestalt_law_of_organization principle_of_equivalence principle_of_superposition Gresham's_law
16. [ noun ] (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems
Synonyms: formula
Examples:

"he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs" "he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials"

Related terms: procedure heuristic metarule recursion algorithm mathematics
17. [ verb ] keep in check
Synonyms: rein harness
Examples:

"rule one's temper"

Related terms: restrict rein
18. [ noun ] the duration of a monarch's or government's power
Examples:

"during the rule of Elizabeth"

Related terms: duration Regency regency govern
19. [ noun ] a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order
Examples:

"the rule of St. Dominic"

Related terms: direction
20. [ noun ] 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
Related terms: measure foot_rule meterstick yardstick carpenter's_rule
Similar spelling:   Ruyle
  Ruley
  Ruhl
  Ruel
  Ruehl
  ruly