Meaning of 'rack' (Webster Dictionary)
- An instrument or frame used for stretching, extending,
retaining, or displaying, something.
- An engine of torture, consisting of a large frame, upon which
the body was gradually stretched until, sometimes, the joints were
dislocated; -- formerly used judicially for extorting confessions from
criminals or suspected persons.
- An instrument for bending a bow.
- A grate on which bacon is laid.
- A frame or device of various construction for holding, and
preventing the waste of, hay, grain, etc., supplied to beasts.
- A frame on which articles are deposited for keeping or
arranged for display; as, a clothes rack; a bottle rack, etc.
- A piece or frame of wood, having several sheaves, through
which the running rigging passes; -- called also rack block. Also, a
frame to hold shot.
- A frame or table on which ores are separated or washed.
- A frame fitted to a wagon for carrying hay, straw, or grain
on the stalk, or other bulky loads.
- A distaff.
- A bar with teeth on its face, or edge, to work with those of
a wheel, pinion, or worm, which is to drive it or be driven by it.
- That which is extorted; exaction.
- Same as Arrack.
- The neck and spine of a fore quarter of veal or mutton.
- A wreck; destruction.
- Thin, flying, broken clouds, or any portion of floating vapor
in the sky.
- A fast amble.
- To amble fast, causing a rocking or swaying motion of the
body; to pace; -- said of a horse.
- To fly, as vapor or broken clouds.
- To draw off from the lees or sediment, as wine.
- To extend by the application of force; to stretch or
strain; specifically, to stretch on the rack or wheel; to torture by an
engine which strains the limbs and pulls the joints.
- To torment; to torture; to affect with extreme pain or
anguish.
- To stretch or strain, in a figurative sense; hence, to
harass, or oppress by extortion.
- To wash on a rack, as metals or ore.
- To bind together, as two ropes, with cross turns of yarn,
marline, etc.
Meaning of 'rack' (Princeton's WordNet)
Meaning (1):
- a support for displaying various articles
Example in sentence:- the newspapers were arranged on a rack
Meaning (2):
- the destruction or collapse of something
Meaning (3):
- put on a rack and pinion
Meaning (4):
- work on a rack
Meaning (5):
- stretch to the limits
Meaning (6):
- draw off from the lees
Meaning (7):
- go at a rack
Meaning (8):
- obtain by coercion or intimidation
Example in sentence:- They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss;
- They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him
Definition
[ a.]