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" |
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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" |
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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?" |
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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" |
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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" |
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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" |
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Related terms: | preponderate redound override overarch reign preponderance | |
9. | [ verb ] decide on and make a declaration about | |
Synonyms: | find | |
Examples: | "find someone guilty" |
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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" |
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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" |
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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" |
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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" |
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Related terms: | procedure heuristic metarule recursion algorithm mathematics | |
17. | [ verb ] keep in check | |
Synonyms: | rein harness | |
Examples: | "rule one's temper" |
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Related terms: | restrict rein | |
18. | [ noun ] the duration of a monarch's or government's power | |
Examples: | "during the rule of Elizabeth" |
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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" |
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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 |