English dictionary



Hint: Asterisk (*) is a wildcard. Asterisk substitutes zero or more characters.

English noun: rule

1. rule (cognition) a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior


SamplesIt was his rule to take a walk before breakfast.
Short haircuts were the regulation.


Synonymsregulation


Broader (hypernym)concept, conception, construct


Narrower (hyponym)cy pres, cy pres doctrine, guideline, guidepost, limitation, restriction, rule of cy pres, rule of thumb, working principle, working rule

2. rule (cognition) something regarded as a normative example


SamplesThe convention of not naming the main character.
Violence is the rule not the exception.
His formula for impressing visitors.


Synonymsconvention, formula, normal, pattern


Broader (hypernym)practice


Narrower (hyponym)code of behavior, code of conduct, mores, universal

3. rule (communication) prescribed guide for conduct or action


Synonymsprescript


Broader (hypernym)direction, instruction


Narrower (hyponym)bylaw, canon, communications protocol, dictate, etiquette, GIGO, golden rule, Miranda rule, order, ordinance, parliamentary law, parliamentary procedure, precept, principle, protocol, regulation, rubric, rule of evidence, rules of order


Part meronymbook, rule book

4. rule (communication) (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice


Synonymslinguistic rule


Broader (hypernym)concept, conception, construct


Narrower (hyponym)grammatical rule, linguistic universal, morphological rule, rule of grammar, rule of morphology, universal


Domain categorylinguistics

5. rule (cognition) a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct


SamplesTheir principles of composition characterized all their works.


Synonymsprinciple


Broader (hypernym)generalisation, generality, generalization


Narrower (hyponym)feng shui, pillar, yang, yin

6. rule (time) the duration of a monarch's or government's power


SamplesDuring the rule of Elizabeth.


Broader (hypernym)continuance, duration


Narrower (hyponym)regency


Instance hyponymRegency

7. rule (state) dominance or power through legal authority


SamplesFrance held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa.
The rule of Caesar.


Synonymsdominion


Broader (hypernym)ascendance, ascendancy, ascendence, ascendency, control, dominance


Narrower (hyponym)paramountcy, raj, reign, sovereignty, suzerainty

8. rule (communication) directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted


SamplesHe knew the rules of chess.


Broader (hypernym)direction, instruction


Narrower (hyponym)ground rule


Part meronymbook, rule book

9. rule (communication) any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order


SamplesThe rule of St. Dominic.


Broader (hypernym)direction, instruction

10. rule (cognition) a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system


SamplesThe principle of the conservation of mass.
The principle of jet propulsion.
The right-hand rule for inductive fields.


Synonymsprinciple


Broader (hypernym)law, law of nature


Narrower (hyponym)Gestalt law of organization, Gestalt principle of organization, Gresham's Law, Huygens' principle of superposition, law of parsimony, Le Chatelier principle, Le Chatelier's law, Le Chatelier's principle, Le Chatelier-Braun principle, localisation, localisation of function, localisation principle, localization, localization of function, localization principle, mass action, mass-action principle, mass-energy equivalence, Naegele's rule, Occam's Razor, Ockham's Razor, principle of equivalence, principle of liquid displacement, principle of parsimony, principle of superposition, principle of superposition, superposition, superposition principle

11. rule (cognition) (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems


SamplesHe determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs.
He gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials.


Synonymsformula


Broader (hypernym)procedure, process


Narrower (hyponym)algorithm, algorithmic program, algorithmic rule, heuristic, heuristic program, heuristic rule, metarule, recursion


Domain categorymath, mathematics, maths

12. rule (artifact) 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


Synonymsruler


Broader (hypernym)measure, measuring rod, measuring stick


Narrower (hyponym)carpenter's rule, foot rule, meterstick, metrestick, yard measure, yardstick


English verb: rule

1. rule (social) exercise authority over; as of nations


SamplesWho is governing the country now?.


Synonymsgovern


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)command, control


Narrower (hyponym)dictate, misgovern, reign, throne

2. rule (cognition) decide with authority


SamplesThe King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed.


Synonymsdecree


Pattern of useSomebody ----s that CLAUSE


Broader (hypernym)decide, determine, make up one's mind


Narrower (hyponym)override, overrule, overthrow, overturn, reverse, rule in, rule out

3. rule (stative) be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance


SamplesMoney reigns supreme here.
Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood.


Synonymsdominate, predominate, prevail, reign


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s.
Something is ----ing PP.
Somebody ----s PP


Narrower (hyponym)outbalance, outweigh, overarch, overbalance, override, preponderate

4. rule (communication) decide on and make a declaration about


SamplesFind someone guilty.


Synonymsfind


Pattern of useSomething ----s something Adjective/Noun.
Somebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)judge, label, pronounce


Verb groupfeel, find

5. rule (stative) have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac


Pattern of useSomething ----s something


Broader (hypernym)accompany, attach to, come with, go with

6. rule (creation) mark or draw with a ruler


SamplesRule the margins.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)draw

7. rule (change) keep in check


SamplesRule one's temper.


Synonymsharness, rein


Pattern of useSomething ----s something


Broader (hypernym)bound, confine, limit, restrain, restrict, throttle, trammel









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
Web design: Orcapia v/Per Bang. English edition: .
2024 onlineordbog.dk