Definition of rack

What does the word rack mean?

• part of speech: verb transitive

  Stretch joints of (person) by pulling esp. with instrument of torture made for the purpose; (of disease or bodily or mental agony) inflict torture on (a racking headache); shake violently, injure by straining, task severely, (cough that seemed to r. his whole body; r. one\'s brains for something to say, a plan, &c.); exact utmost possible amount of (rent), oppress (tenants) with excessive rent, exhaust (land) with excessive use; r.-rent n., extortionate rent equal or nearly equal to full value of land, v.t., exact this from (tenant) or for (land); r.-renter, tenant paying or landlord exacting r.-rent. (N.) instrument of torture, a frame with roller at each end to which victim\'s wrists& ankles were tied so that his joints were stretched when rollers were turned (on the r., being racked, lit., or fig. of person in distress or under strain).

• part of speech: verb transitive

  Draw off (wine &c.) from the lees (often off). [Provencal]

• part of speech: noun, intransitive verb

  1. Driving clouds; (vb; of clouds) drive before wind. 2. Destruction (usu. go to r. & ruin).

• part of speech: noun, intransitive verb

  Horse\'s gait between trot& canter, both legs of one side being lifted almost at once, & all four feet being off ground together at moments; (vb) progress thus.

• part of speech: noun

  Fixed or movable frame of wooden or metal bars for holding fodder; framework with rails, bars, pegs, or shelves, for keeping articles on or in (plate, hat, tool, pipe, &c., -r.); cogged or indented bar or rail gearing with wheel or pinion or worm, or serving with pegs &c. to adjust position of something; r.-railway, with cogged rail between bearing rails; r.-wheel, cog-wheel. (Vb) fill up stable-r. with lay or straw for the night (also trans., r. up horse, provide it thus); fasten (horse) up to r.; place in or on r. [Dutch]

• part of speech: noun

  Arrack (esp. r.-punch).