Rank — Defs

01 a. Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds.

1.
Luxuriant in growth; of vigorous growth; exuberant; grown to immoderate height; as, rank grass; rank weeds.
“And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.” — Gen. xli. 5.
2.
Raised to a high degree; violent; extreme; gross; utter; as, rank heresy.
3.
Causing vigorous growth; producing luxuriantly; very rich and fertile; as, rank land.
4.
Strong-scented; rancid; musty; as, oil of a rank smell; rank-smelling rue.
5.
Strong to the taste.
6.
Inflamed with venereal appetite.[Obs.]

Phrases & compounds

Rank modus — an excessive and unreasonable modus. See Modus, 3.

To set (the iron of a plane, etc.) rank — to set so as to take off a thick shaving.

02 adv. Rankly; stoutly; violently.

1.
Rankly; stoutly; violently.[Obs.]
“That rides so rank and bends his lance so fell.” — Fairfax.

03 n. A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers.

1.
A row or line; a range; an order; a tier; as, a rank of osiers.
“Many a mountain nigh Rising in lofty ranks, and loftier still.” — Byron.
2.
A line of soldiers ranged side by side; -- opposed to file. See 1st File, 1 (a).(Mil.) See: File
“Fierce, fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war.” — Shak.
3.
Grade of official standing, as in the army, navy, or nobility; as, the rank of general; the rank of admiral.
4.
An aggregate of individuals classed together; a permanent social class; an order; a division; as, ranks and orders of men; the highest and the lowest ranks of men, or of other intelligent beings.
5.
Degree of dignity, eminence, or excellence; position in civil or social life; station; degree; grade; as, a writer of the first rank; a lawyer of high rank.
“These all are virtues of a meaner rank.” — Addison.
6.
Elevated grade or standing; high degree; high social position; distinction; eminence; as, a man of rank.

Phrases & compounds

Rank and file — The whole body of common soldiers, including also corporals. In a more extended sense, it includes sergeants also, excepting the noncommissioned staff.

The ranks — the order or grade of common soldiers; as, to reduce a noncommissioned officer to the ranks.

To fill the ranks — to supply the whole number, or a competent number.

To take rank of — to have precedence over, or to have the right of taking a higher place than.

04 v. t. To place abreast, or in a line.

imp. & p. p. Ranked; p. pr. & vb. n. Ranking

1.
To place abreast, or in a line.
2.
To range in a particular class, order, or division; to class; also, to dispose methodically; to place in suitable classes or order; to classify.
“Ranking all things under general and special heads.” — I. Watts.

“Poets were ranked in the class of philosophers.” — Broome.

“Heresy is ranked with idolatry and witchcraft.” — Dr. H. More.
3.
To take rank of; to outrank.[U.S.]

05 v. i. To be ranged; to be set or disposed, as in a particular degree, class, order, or division.

1.
To be ranged; to be set or disposed, as in a particular degree, class, order, or division.
“Let that one article rank with the rest.” — Shak.
2.
To have a certain grade or degree of elevation in the orders of civil or military life; to have a certain degree of esteem or consideration; as, he ranks with the first class of poets; he ranks high in public estimation.