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rank2

Syllabification: (rank)

Pronunciation: /raNGk/

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Definition of rank

adjective

1(of vegetation) growing too thickly and coarsely.

2(especially of air or water) having a foul or offensive smell.
informal very unpleasant:the tea at work is nice but the coffee’s pretty rank

3 [attributive] (especially of something bad or deficient) complete and utter (used for emphasis):rank stupidity rank amateurs a rank outsider

Derivatives

rankly
rankness

Origin:

Old English ranc 'proud, rebellious, sturdy', also 'fully grown', of Germanic origin. An early sense 'luxuriant' gave rise to 'too luxuriant', whence the negative connotation of modern usage

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Definition of rank in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

rank2

adjective

Derivatives

rankly

rankness

Origin:

rank in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for rank

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