Definition

1. Noun:

   • A framework or structure for holding, storing, or displaying items: A "rack" is a piece of equipment, often with shelves, bars, or hooks, designed to hold specific objects.
   • An instrument of torture: Historically, a "rack" was a device used to torture people by stretching their bodies.
   • A state of intense suffering or strain: "Rack" can refer to a condition of great physical or mental anguish.
   • A rapid, smooth gait of a horse: In equestrian terms, the "rack" is a specific, fast, four-beat lateral gait.
   • A rib section of meat: In butchery, "rack" refers to a cut of meat, especially from lamb or pork, containing part of the rib bones.

2. Verb:

   • To cause great physical or mental pain; to torment: To "rack" someone is to inflict severe suffering or distress upon them.
   • To place on or in a rack: To "rack" something means to put it onto a supporting framework.
   • To strain or stretch violently: To "rack" can mean to shake or convulse, as if being pulled apart.
   • To draw off liquid from sediment: To "rack" a liquid, like wine, is to transfer it from one container to another, leaving the lees (sediment) behind.
   • To move at a racking gait: When a horse "racks," it moves with its distinctive fast, lateral gait.
   • To obtain by force or extortion: To "rack" something from someone is to get it through coercion or intimidation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She placed the magazines neatly on the magazine rack.
  • The prisoner was stretched on the rack.
  • His mind was in a rack of indecision.
  • The horse has an excellent rack.
  • We ordered a rack of lamb for dinner.

• Verb:

  • Guilt racked his conscience for years.
  • Please rack the test tubes in the holder.
  • A terrible cough racked his body.
  • The winemaker will rack the wine into a clean barrel.
  • The horse racked smoothly across the field.

Advanced Usage

• "On the rack": Experiencing extreme stress, anxiety, or torture.
  • Waiting for the test results put him on the rack.
• "Rack and ruin": A state of complete destruction or decay.
  • The old mansion fell into rack and ruin.
• "Rack up": To accumulate or score (points, debts, victories).
  • The team racked up another win last night.
• "Rack one's brains": To think very hard in an effort to remember or solve something.
  • I racked my brains trying to recall her name.

Variants and Related Words

• Racking (adj): Causing intense pain or distress.
  • He had a racking cough.
• Racketeer (n): A person who engages in dishonest and fraudulent business dealings.
• Car rack (n): A framework attached to a vehicle for carrying bicycles, skis, or luggage.

Synonyms

• Noun (Framework): Stand, frame, shelf, holder.
• Verb (Torment): Torture, afflict, agonize, plague.
• Verb (Strain): Wrench, shake, convulse.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Rack off (v): To draw off (a liquid) from sediment.
  • It's time to rack off this batch of cider.
• Rack out (v, informal): To go to sleep.
  • I'm exhausted; I'm going to rack out.

Related Idioms

• "Rack and pinion": A mechanical device for converting rotary into linear motion, commonly used in steering systems.
  • The car's steering uses a rack and pinion system.
• "A rack of bones": A very thin person or animal.
  • After his illness, he was just a rack of bones.

Noun

1. a rapid gait of a horse in which each foot strikes the ground separately
2. a form of torture in which pain is inflicted by stretching the body
3. a support for displaying various articles
   • the newspapers were arranged on a rack
4. an instrument of torture that stretches or disjoints or mutilates victims
5. the destruction or collapse of something
   • wrack and ruin
6. rib section of a forequarter of veal or pork or especially lamb or mutton
7. framework for holding objects

Verb

1. torture on the rack
2. seize together, as of parallel ropes of a tackle in order to prevent running through the block
3. work on a rack
   • rack leather
4. torment emotionally or mentally
5. draw off from the lees
   • rack wine
6. fly in high wind
7. run before a gale
8. obtain by coercion or intimidation
   • 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
9. put on a rack and pinion
   • rack a camera
10. stretch to the limits
    • rack one's brains
11. go at a rack
    • the horses single-footed