rank1

Pronunciation: /raŋk/

Definition of rank

1a position in the hierarchy of the armed forces:an army officer of high rank he was promoted to the rank of Captain
a position within the hierarchy of an organization or society:only two cabinet members had held ministerial rank before
[mass noun] high social position:persons of rank and breeding
Statistics a number specifying position in a numerically ordered series.
(in systemic grammar) the level of a linguistic unit or set of linguistic units in relation to other sets in the hierarchy.

2a single line of soldiers or police officers drawn up abreast: they were drawn up outside their barracks in long ranks
a regular row or line of things or people:conifer plantations growing in serried ranks
Chess each of the eight rows of eight squares running from side to side across a chessboard. Compare with file².
Britishshort for taxi rank.

3 (ranks) the people belonging to or constituting a group or class:the ranks of Britain’s unemployed
(the ranks) (in the armed forces) those who are not commissioned officers:he was fined and reduced to the ranks

4 Mathematics the value or the order of the largest non-zero determinant of a given matrix.

[with object and adverbial]

1give (someone or something) a rank or place within a grading system:students ranked the samples in order of preference [with object and complement]:she is ranked number four in the world
[no object, with adverbial] have a specified rank or place within a grading system:he now ranks third in America
[with object] US take precedence over (someone) in respect of rank; outrank:the Secretary of State ranks all the other members of the cabinet

Phrases

break rank (or ranks): (of soldiers or police officers) fail to remain in line.; fail to maintain solidarity:the government is prepared to break ranks with the Allied states
close ranks: (of soldiers or police officers) come closer together in a line.; unite in order to defend common interests:the family had always closed ranks in times of crisis
keep rank: (of soldiers or police officers) remain in line.
pull rank: take unfair advantage of one’s seniority: someone pulled rank and took my place
rise through (or from) the ranks: (of a private or a non-commissioned officer) receive a commission.; advance in an organization by one’s own efforts:he rose through the ranks to become managing director

Middle English (in the sense 'row of things'): from Old French ranc, of Germanic origin; related to ring¹

Definition of rank in the US English dictionary