Definition

1. Noun:

   • A fixed amount of a commodity officially allowed to each person during a time of shortage: A "ration" is a controlled portion of something, especially food, fuel, or clothing, distributed when supplies are scarce.
   • An allowance of food, especially for military personnel: It can specifically refer to the daily food allowance provided to soldiers or other service members.

2. Verb:

   • To allow each person to have only a fixed amount of a resource: To "ration" means to control and distribute a scarce commodity in limited, often equal, amounts.
   • To restrict the consumption of something: It involves limiting the use or availability of an item.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • During the war, each family received a weekly sugar ration.
  • The soldiers complained that their rations were insufficient.

• Verb:

  • The government had to ration gasoline during the energy crisis.
  • Water was rationed to two liters per person per day during the drought.

Advanced Usage

• "to be on rations": to be receiving a controlled, limited supply of food or other necessities.

  • The population was on rations for the entire winter.

• "ration out": to distribute something in fixed, limited amounts.

  • The aid workers rationed out the remaining medicine carefully.

Variants and Related Words

• Rationing (n): The system or act of controlling the distribution of a scarce commodity.

  • Wartime rationing continued for several years after the conflict ended.

• Rationed (adj): Describing something that is controlled and distributed in limited amounts.

  • Rationed goods were often sold on the black market.

Synonyms

• Noun: Allowance, allotment, portion, quota.
• Verb: Allot, allocate, apportion, limit, restrict.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Ration out: To distribute something in controlled portions.
  • The captain rationed out the last of the fresh water.

Related Idioms

• "Short rations": A situation where the amount of food or supplies provided is less than usual or insufficient.
  • The explorers were on short rations after losing part of their supplies.

Noun

1. a fixed portion that is allotted (especially in times of scarcity)
2. the food allowance for one day (especially for service personnel)
   • the rations should be nutritionally balanced

Verb

1. distribute in rations, as in the army
   • Cigarettes are rationed
2. restrict the consumption of a relatively scarce commodity, as during war
   • Bread was rationed during the siege of the city