1

a

**:**a prescribed guide for conduct or action

b

**:**the laws or regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for observance by its members

c

**:**an accepted procedure, custom, or habit

d(1)

**:**a usually written order or direction made by a court regulating court practice or the action of parties

(2)

**:**a legal precept or doctrine

e

**:**a regulation or bylaw governing procedure or controlling conduct

2

a(1)

**:**a usually valid generalization

(2)

**:**a generally prevailing quality, state, or mode

fair weather was the rule yesterday—

*The New York Times*
b

**:**a standard of judgment

**:**criterion

c

**:**a regulating principle

d

**:**a determinate method for performing a mathematical operation and obtaining a certain result

3

4

a

**:**a strip of material marked off in units used especially for measuring

**:**ruler sense 3, tape measure

b

**:**a metal strip with a type-high face that prints a linear design

also

**:**a linear design produced by or as if by such a strip
ruled; ruling

1

a

**:**to exert control, direction, or influence on

the passions that rule our minds

b

**:**to exercise control over especially by curbing or restraining

rule a fractious horse

*ruled*his appetites firmly

2

a

**:**to exercise authority or power over often harshly or arbitrarily

the speaker

*ruled*the legislature with an iron hand
b

**:**to be preeminent in

**:**dominate

3

**:**to determine and declare authoritatively

especially

**:**to command or determine judicially4

a(1)

**:**to mark with lines drawn along or as if along the straight edge of a ruler

(2)

**:**to mark (a line) on a paper with a ruler

b

**:**to arrange in a line

1

a

**:**to exercise supreme authority

b

**:**to be first in importance or prominence

**:**predominate

the physical did not rule in her nature—Sherwood Anderson

2

**:**to exist in a specified state or condition

3

**:**to lay down a legal rule

4

slang

**:**to be extremely cool or popular —used as a generalized term of praise or approvalfor a little attitude at the right price, sneakers rule—Tish Hamilton

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Merriam-Webster unabridged
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