rule

[ rool ]

/ rul /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rule ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement, etc.: the rules of chess.

the code of regulations observed by a religious order or congregation: the Franciscan rule.

the customary or normal circumstance, occurrence, manner, practice, quality, etc.: the rule rather than the exception.

control, government, or dominion: under the rule of a dictator.

tenure or conduct of reign or office: during the rule of George III.

a prescribed mathematical method for performing a calculation or solving a problem.

ruler(def 2).

(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Norma.

Printing. a thin, type-high strip of metal, for printing a solid or decorative line or lines.

Law.

a formal order or direction made by a court, as for governing the procedure of the court (general rule) or for sending the case before a referee (special rule).
a legal principle.
a court order in a particular case.

rules, Penology. (formerly)

a fixed area in the neighborhood of certain prisons within which certain prisoners were allowed to live.
the freedom of such an area.

Obsolete. behavior.

verb (used with object), ruled, rul·ing.

to control or direct; exercise dominating power, authority, or influence over; govern: to rule the empire with severity.

to decide or declare judicially or authoritatively; decree: The judge ruled that he should be exiled.

to mark with lines, especially parallel straight lines, with the aid of a ruler or the like: to rule paper.

to mark out or form (a line) by this method: to rule lines on paper.

to be superior or preeminent in (a specific field or group); dominate by superiority; hold sway over: For centuries, England ruled the seas.

verb (used without object), ruled, rul·ing.

to exercise dominating power or influence; predominate.

to exercise authority, dominion, or sovereignty.

to make a formal decision or ruling, as on a point at law.

to be prevalent or current: Higher prices ruled throughout France.

Verb Phrases

rule out,

to prove to be unrelated or not for consideration; eliminate; exclude: to rule out the possibility of error.
to make impossible or impracticable: The rainstorm ruled out the holiday camping.

Idioms for rule

as a rule, generally; usually: He arrives at eleven o'clock, as a rule.

rule the roost. roost(def 7).

Origin of rule

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English riule, reule < Old French riule < Latin rēgula straight stick, pattern (see regula); (v.) Middle English riwlen, reulen, rewellen < Old French riuler, rieuler, ruler < Late Latin rēgulāre, derivative of rēgula

SYNONYMS FOR rule

1 standard, law, ruling, guide, precept, order.

4 command, domination, mastery, sway, authority, direction.

14 order, judge.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rule ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for rule

1. See principle. 13. Rule, administer, command, govern, manage mean to exercise authoritative guidance or direction. Rule implies the exercise of authority as by a sovereign: to rule a kingdom. Administer places emphasis on the planned and orderly procedures used: to administer the finances of an institution. Command suggests military authority and the power to exact obedience; to be in command of: to command a ship. To govern is authoritatively to guide or direct persons or things, especially in the affairs of a large administrative unit: to govern a state. To manage is to conduct affairs, i.e., to guide them in a unified way toward a definite goal, or to direct or control people, often by tact, address, or artifice: to manage a business.

OTHER WORDS FROM rule

in·ter·rule, verb (used with object), in·ter·ruled, in·ter·rul·ing. self-rule, noun sub·rule, noun un·der·rule, noun

un·der·rule, verb, un·der·ruled, un·der·rul·ing. un·ruled, adjective well-ruled, adjective

Words nearby rule

ruination, ruinous, ruisdael, rukeyser, rukwa, rule, rule joint, rule of bigeminy, rule of eleven, rule of engagement, rule of law

British Dictionary definitions for as a rule

rule

/ (ruːl) /

noun

an authoritative regulation or direction concerning method or procedure, as for a court of law, legislative body, game, or other human institution or activity judges' rules; play according to the rules

the exercise of governmental authority or control the rule of Caesar

the period of time in which a monarch or government has power his rule lasted 100 days

a customary form or procedure; regular course of action he made a morning swim his rule

the rule the common order of things; normal condition violence was the rule rather than the exception

a prescribed method or procedure for solving a mathematical problem, or one constituting part of a computer program, usually expressed in an appropriate formalism

a formal expression of a grammatical regularity in a linguistic description of a language

any of various devices with a straight edge for guiding or measuring; ruler a carpenter's rule

a printed or drawn character in the form of a long thin line
another name for dash 1 (def. 13) en rule; em rule
a strip of brass or other metal used to print such a line

Christianity a systematic body of prescriptions defining the way of life to be followed by members of a religious order

law an order by a court or judge

as a rule normally or ordinarily

verb

to exercise governing or controlling authority over (a people, political unit, individual, etc) he ruled for 20 years; his passion for her ruled his life

(when tr, often takes a clause as object) to decide authoritatively; decree the chairman ruled against the proposal

(tr) to mark with straight parallel lines or make one straight line, as with a ruler to rule a margin

(tr) to restrain or control to rule one's temper

(intr) to be customary or prevalent chaos rules in this school

(intr) to be pre-eminent or superior football rules in the field of sport

(tr) astrology (of a planet) to have a strong affinity with certain human attributes, activities, etc, associated with (one or sometimes two signs of the zodiac) Mars rules Aries

rule the roost or rule the roast to be pre-eminent; be in charge

Derived forms of rule

rulable, adjective

Word Origin for rule

C13: from Old French riule, from Latin rēgula a straight edge; see regulate

Medical definitions for as a rule

rule

[ rōōl ]

n.

A usual, customary, or generalized course of action or behavior.

A generalized statement that describes what is true in most or all cases; a standard.

Idioms and Phrases with as a rule (1 of 2)

as a rule

In general, usually, as in As a rule Irene does not eat meat. [Mid-1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with as a rule (2 of 2)

rule

In addition to the idioms beginning with rule

rule of thumb
rule out
rule the roost

also see:

as a rule
exception proves the rule
ground rules

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rule

noun

verb (used with object), ruled, rul·ing.

verb (used without object), ruled, rul·ing.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for rule

Origin of rule

SYNONYMS FOR rule

synonym study for rule

OTHER WORDS FROM rule

Words nearby rule

British Dictionary definitions for as a rule

noun

verb

Derived forms of rule

Word Origin for rule

Medical definitions for as a rule

n.

Idioms and Phrases with as a rule (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with as a rule (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rule

noun

verb (used with object), ruled, rul·ing.

verb (used without object), ruled, rul·ing.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for rule

Origin of rule

SYNONYMS FOR rule

synonym study for rule

OTHER WORDS FROM rule

Words nearby rule

Words related to as a rule

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for as a rule

noun

verb

Derived forms of rule

Word Origin for rule

Medical definitions for as a rule

n.

Idioms and Phrases with as a rule (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with as a rule (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for as a rule