rank

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   growing profusely

   rank jungle vegetation

2. 2
   adj

   very offensive in smell or taste

   a rank cigar

3. 3
   noun

   the ordinary members of an organization (such as the enlisted soldiers of an army)

   the strike was supported by the union rank and file

4. 4
   noun

   a row or line of people, especially soldiers or police, standing abreast of one another

   The entrance was guarded by ranks of police.

5. 5
   noun

   relative status

   Their salary was determined by rank and seniority.

6. 6
   verb

   assign a rank or rating to

   how would you rank these students?

7. 7
   verb

   take or have a position relative to others

   This painting ranks among the best in the Western World

8. 8
   adj

   Strong; powerful; capable of acting or being used with great effect; energetic; vigorous; headstrong.

   rank grass

Etymology

From Middle English rank (“strong, proud”), from Old English ranc (“proud, haughty, arrogant, insolent, forward, overbearing, showy, ostentatious, splendid, bold, valiant, noble, brave, strong, full-grown, mature”), from Proto-West Germanic *rank, from Proto-Germanic *rankaz (“straight”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“straight, direct”). Cognate with Dutch rank (“slender, slim”), Low German rank (“slender, projecting, lank”), Danish rank (“straight, erect, slender”), Swedish rank (“slender, shaky, wonky”), Icelandic rakkur (“straight, slender, bold, valiant”).