racking

[ rak-ing ]
/ ˈræk ɪŋ /

noun Masonry.

the stepping back of the ends of courses successively from bottom to top in an unfinished wall to facilitate resumption of work or bonding with an intersecting wall.

Origin of racking

First recorded in 1890–95; rack1 + -ing1

Definition for racking (2 of 5)

rack 1
[ rak ]
/ ræk /

noun

verb (used with object)

Verb Phrases

rack out, Slang. to go to bed; go to sleep: I racked out all afternoon.
rack up,
  1. Pool. to put (the balls) in a rack.
  2. Informal. to tally, accumulate, or amass as an achievement or score: The corporation racked up the greatest profits in its history.

Origin of rack

1
1250–1300; Middle English rakke, rekke (noun) < Middle Dutch rac, rec, recke; compare Middle Low German reck, German Reck

OTHER WORDS FROM rack

rack·ing·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rack

rack wrack wreak wreck racked wracked wreaked wrecked

Definition for racking (3 of 5)

rack 3
[ rak ]
/ ræk /

noun

the fast pace of a horse in which the legs move in lateral pairs but not simultaneously.

verb (used without object)

(of horses) to move in a rack.

Origin of rack

3
First recorded in 1570–80; perhaps variant of rock2

Definition for racking (4 of 5)

rack 4

or wrack

[ rak ]
/ ræk /

noun

Also called cloud rack. a group of drifting clouds.

verb (used without object)

to drive or move, especially before the wind.

Origin of rack

4
1350–1400; Middle English rak, reck(e); origin uncertain

Definition for racking (5 of 5)

rack 5
[ rak ]
/ ræk /

verb (used with object)

to draw off (wine, cider, etc.) from the lees.

Origin of rack

5
1425–75; late Middle English < Old French; compare obsolete French raqué (of wine) pressed from the dregs of grapes

Example sentences from the Web for racking

British Dictionary definitions for racking (1 of 6)

rack 1
/ (ræk) /

noun

verb (tr)

See also rack up

Derived forms of rack

racker, noun

Word Origin for rack

C14 rekke, probably from Middle Dutch rec framework; related to Old High German recchen to stretch, Old Norse rekja to spread out

undefined rack

See wrack 1

British Dictionary definitions for racking (2 of 6)

rack 2
/ (ræk) /

noun

destruction; wreck (obsolete except in the phrase go to rack and ruin)

Word Origin for rack

C16: variant of wrack 1

British Dictionary definitions for racking (3 of 6)

rack 3
/ (ræk) /

noun

another word for single-foot, a gait of the horse

Word Origin for rack

C16: perhaps based on rock ²

British Dictionary definitions for racking (4 of 6)

rack 4
/ (ræk) /

noun

a group of broken clouds moving in the wind

verb

(intr) (of clouds) to be blown along by the wind

Word Origin for rack

Old English wrǣc what is driven; related to Gothic wraks persecutor, Swedish vrak wreckage

British Dictionary definitions for racking (5 of 6)

rack 5
/ (ræk) /

verb (tr)

to clear (wine, beer, etc) as by siphoning it off from the dregs
to fill a container with (beer, wine, etc)

Word Origin for rack

C15: from Old Provençal arraca, from raca dregs of grapes after pressing

British Dictionary definitions for racking (6 of 6)

rack 6
/ (ræk) /

noun

the neck or rib section of mutton, pork, or veal

Word Origin for rack

Old English hrace; related to Old High German rahho, Danish harke, Swedish harkla to clear one's throat

Idioms and Phrases with racking

rack