Added 3 October 2026
rank
/ˈɹæŋk/ symbol
In Latin: rancidus Wiktionary
symbol Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about rank at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- The symbol for rank.
adjective
-
Strong; powerful; capable of acting or being used with great effect; energetic; vigorous; headstrong. Strong in growth; growing with vigour or rapidity, hence, coarse or gross.
rank grass
-
Strong in growth; growing with vigour or rapidity, hence, coarse or gross.
rank grass
-
Causing strong growth; producing luxuriantly; rich and fertile.
rank land
adverb
noun
-
A row of people or things organized in a grid pattern, often soldiers.
The front rank kneeled to reload while the second rank fired over their heads.
- One of the eight horizontal lines of squares on a chessboard (i.e., those identified by a number).
-
The value of a playing card.
The ranks are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace.
Origin
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”). The sense referring to taste or odor is possibly influenced by rancor.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)