rank

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person's position or level within a group or organization.

   She rose to a high rank in the army.

2. 2
   verb

   To put things in order according to how good or important they are.

   How would you rank these students?

3. 3
   verb

   To hold a particular position compared with others.

   This painting ranks among the best in the world.

4. 4
   noun

   A row of people, especially soldiers, standing side by side.

   The entrance was guarded by ranks of police.

5. 5
   adj

   Having a strong, unpleasant smell or taste.

   The milk had gone rank and smelled awful.

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”).

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