Definition of rule - WordReference.com Dictionary

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rule:

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Adapted From: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

rule
A	noun
	1	rule, ruler
			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
		Category Tree: entity ╚object; physical object ╚artifact; artefact ╚instrumentality; instrumentation ╚device ╚instrument ╚measuring instrument; measuring system; measuring device ╚measuring stick; measure; measuring rod ╚rule, ruler ╚yardstick; yard measure ╚meterstick; metrestick ╚foot rule ╚carpenter's rule
	2	convention, normal, pattern, rule, formula
			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"
		Category Tree: psychological feature ╚cognition; knowledge; noesis ╚practice ╚convention, normal, pattern, rule, formula ╚code of conduct; code of behavior ╚mores
	3	rule, regulation
			a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior; "it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast"; "short haircuts were the regulation"
		Category Tree: psychological feature ╚cognition; knowledge; noesis ╚content; cognitive content; mental object ╚idea; thought ╚concept; conception; construct ╚rule, regulation ╚working principle; working rule ╚cy pres; rule of cy pres; cy pres doctrine ╚guidepost; guideline; rule of thumb ╚restriction; limitation
	4	rule, formula
			(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"
		Category Tree: act; human action; human activity ╚activity ╚procedure; process ╚rule, formula ╚recursion ╚heuristic; heuristic rule; heuristic program ╚algorithm; algorithmic rule; algorithmic program ╚metarule
	5	principle, rule
			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"
		Category Tree: psychological feature ╚cognition; knowledge; noesis ╚content; cognitive content; mental object ╚idea; thought ╚concept; conception; construct ╚law; law of nature ╚principle, rule ╚localization of function; localisation of function; localization principle; localisation principle; localization; localisation ╚mass-action principle; mass action ╚principle of superposition; superposition principle; superposition ╚principle of superposition; Huygens' principle of superposition ╚principle of liquid displacement ╚principle of equivalence ╚Occam's Razor; Ockham's Razor; principle of parsimony; law of parsimony ╚Naegele's rule ╚mass-energy equivalence ╚Gresham's Law ╚Le Chatelier's principle; Le Chatelier's law; Le Chatelier principle; Le Chatelier-Braun principle ╚Gestalt law of organization; Gestalt principle of organization
	6	principle, rule
			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"
		Category Tree: psychological feature ╚cognition; knowledge; noesis ╚content; cognitive content; mental object ╚idea; thought ╚generalization; generalisation; generality ╚principle, rule ╚feng shui ╚yin ╚yang ╚pillar
	7	rule
			any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order; "the rule of St. Dominic"
		Category Tree: abstraction ╚relation ╚social relation ╚communication ╚message; content; subject matter; substance ╚direction; instruction ╚rule
	8	rule, prescript
			prescribed guide for conduct or action
		Category Tree: abstraction ╚relation ╚social relation ╚communication ╚message; content; subject matter; substance ╚direction; instruction ╚rule, prescript ╚canon ╚regulation; ordinance ╚dictate ╚GIGO ╚golden rule ╚principle; precept ╚Miranda rule ╚rule of evidence ╚order; rules of order; parliamentary law; parliamentary procedure ╚rubric ╚bylaw; bye law
	9	rule
			directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted; "he knew the rules of chess"
		Category Tree: abstraction ╚relation ╚social relation ╚communication ╚message; content; subject matter; substance ╚direction; instruction ╚rule ╚ground rule
	10	rule, linguistic rule
			(linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
		Category Tree: psychological feature ╚cognition; knowledge; noesis ╚content; cognitive content; mental object ╚idea; thought ╚concept; conception; construct ╚rule, linguistic rule ╚morphological rule; rule of morphology ╚grammatical rule; rule of grammar
	11	dominion, rule
			dominance or power through legal authority; "France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa"; "the rule of Caesar"
		Category Tree: state ╚condition; status ╚dominance; ascendance; ascendence; ascendancy; ascendency; control ╚dominion, rule ╚suzerainty ╚reign; sovereignty ╚raj ╚paramountcy
	12	rule
			the duration of a monarch's or government's power; "during the rule of Elizabeth"
		Category Tree: abstraction ╚measure; quantity; amount ╚fundamental quantity; fundamental measure ╚time period; period of time; period ╚duration; continuance ╚rule ╚regency ╚Regency
B	verb
	1	rule, harness, rein
			keep in check; "rule one's temper"
		Category Tree: prevent; keep ╚restrain; suppress; keep; keep back; hold back ╚control; hold in; hold; contain; check; curb; moderate ╚restrict; restrain; trammel; limit; bound; confine; throttle ╚rule, harness, rein
	2	rule, decree
			decide with authority; "The King decreed that all first-born males should be killed"
		Category Tree: decide; make up one's mind; determine ╚rule, decree ╚rule out; rule in ╚overrule; overturn; override; overthrow; reverse
	3	rule, find
			decide on and make a declaration about; "find someone guilty"
		Category Tree: think; cogitate; cerebrate ╚judge ╚declare; adjudge; hold ╚pronounce; label; judge ╚rule, find
	4	rule
			mark or draw with a ruler; "rule the margins"
		Category Tree: make; create ╚re-create ╚represent; interpret ╚draw ╚rule
	5	govern, rule
			exercise authority over; as of nations; "Who is governing the country now?"
		Category Tree: control; command ╚govern, rule ╚reign ╚dictate ╚misgovern ╚throne
	6	predominate, dominate, rule, reign, prevail
			be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance; "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"

	7	rule
			have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
		Category Tree: attach to; accompany; come with; go with ╚rule

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Forum discussions with the word(s) 'rule' in the title:

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this rule can be...
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make it a rule to
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thumb rule
cats rule!
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