Meaning & Definition of Rule in English
Rule
noun
1. A principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
- "It was his rule to take a walk before breakfast"
- "Short haircuts were the regulation"
- rule,
- regulation
2. Something regarded as a normative example
- "The convention of not naming the main character"
- "Violence is the rule not the exception"
- "His formula for impressing visitors"
- convention,
- normal,
- pattern,
- rule,
- formula
3. Prescribed guide for conduct or action
- rule,
- prescript
4. (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
- rule,
- linguistic rule
5. A basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
- "Their principles of composition characterized all their works"
- principle,
- rule
6. The duration of a monarch's or government's power
- "During the rule of elizabeth"
- rule
7. Dominance or power through legal authority
- "France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of africa"
- "The rule of caesar"
- dominion,
- rule
8. Directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted
- "He knew the rules of chess"
- rule
9. Any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order
- "The rule of st. dominic"
- rule
10. A rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system
- "The principle of the conservation of mass"
- "The principle of jet propulsion"
- "The right-hand rule for inductive fields"
- principle,
- rule
11. (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems
- "He determined the upper bound with descartes' rule of signs"
- "He gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials"
- rule,
- formula
12. 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
- rule,
- ruler
verb
1. Exercise authority over
- As of nations
- "Who is governing the country now?"
- govern,
- rule
2. Decide with authority
- "The king decreed that all firstborn males should be killed"
- rule,
- decree
3. Be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
- "Money reigns supreme here"
- "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"
- predominate,
- dominate,
- rule,
- reign,
- prevail
4. Decide on and make a declaration about
- "Find someone guilty"
- rule,
- find
5. Have an affinity with
- Of signs of the zodiac
- rule
6. Mark or draw with a ruler
- "Rule the margins"
- rule
7. Keep in check
- "Rule one's temper"
- rule,
- harness,
- rein