ranch

[ ranch ]
/ ræntʃ /

noun

an establishment maintained for raising livestock under range conditions.
Chiefly Western U.S. and Canada. a large farm used primarily to raise one kind of crop or animal: a mink ranch.
the persons employed or living on a ranch.

verb (used without object)

to manage or work on a ranch.

Origin of ranch

1800–10, Americanism; < Spanish rancho rancho

OTHER WORDS FROM ranch

ranch·less, adjective ranch·like, adjective un·ranched, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ranch

ranch wrench

Example sentences from the Web for ranching

British Dictionary definitions for ranching

ranch
/ (rɑːntʃ) /

noun

a large tract of land, esp one in North America, together with the necessary personnel, buildings, and equipment, for rearing livestock, esp cattle
  1. any large farm for the rearing of a particular kind of livestock or cropa mink ranch
  2. the buildings, land, etc, connected with it

verb

(intr) to manage or run a ranch
(tr) to raise (animals) on or as if on a ranch

Word Origin for ranch

C19: from Mexican Spanish rancho small farm; see rancho