Dictionary entry details
• RULE (noun)
Meaning:
A principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
rule; regulation
Context examples:
it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast / short haircuts were the regulation
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
concept; conception; construct (an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rule"):
working principle; working rule (a rule that is adequate to permit work to be done)
cy pres; cy pres doctrine; rule of cy pres (a rule that when literal compliance is impossible the intention of a donor or testator should be carried out as nearly as possible)
guideline; guidepost; rule of thumb (a rule or principle that provides guidance to appropriate behavior)
limitation; restriction (a principle that limits the extent of something)
Meaning:
Something regarded as a normative example
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
normal; convention; rule; pattern; formula
Context examples:
the convention of not naming the main character / violence is the rule not the exception / his formula for impressing visitors
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
practice (knowledge of how something is usually done)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rule"):
mores ((sociology) the conventions that embody the fundamental values of a group)
code of behavior; code of conduct (a set of conventional principles and expectations that are considered binding on any person who is a member of a particular group)
universal (a behavioral convention or pattern characteristic of all members of a particular culture or of all human beings)
Meaning:
Prescribed guide for conduct or action
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
prescript; rule
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
direction; instruction (a message describing how something is to be done)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rule"):
communications protocol; protocol ((computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data)
etiquette (rules governing socially acceptable behavior)
canon (a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field or art or philosophy)
ordinance; regulation; dictate (an authoritative rule)
GIGO ((computer science) a rule stating that the quality of the output is a function of the quality of the input; put garbage in and you get garbage out)
golden rule (any important rule)
precept; principle (rule of personal conduct)
Miranda rule (the rule that police (when interrogating you after an arrest) are obliged to warn you that anything you say may be used as evidence and to read you your constitutional rights (the right to a lawyer and the right to remain silent until advised by a lawyer))
rule of evidence ((law) a rule of law whereby any alleged matter of fact that is submitted for investigation at a judicial trial is established or disproved)
order; parliamentary law; parliamentary procedure; rules of order (a body of rules followed by an assembly)
rubric (an authoritative rule of conduct or procedure)
bye law; bylaw (a rule made by a local authority to regulate its own affairs)
Holonyms ("rule" is a part of...):
book; rule book (a collection of rules or prescribed standards on the basis of which decisions are made)
Meaning:
(linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
linguistic rule; rule
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
concept; conception; construct (an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances)
Domain category:
linguistics (the scientific study of language)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rule"):
linguistic universal; universal ((linguistics) a grammatical rule (or other linguistic feature) that is found in all languages)
grammatical rule; rule of grammar (a linguistic rule for the syntax of grammatical utterances)
morphological rule; rule of morphology (a linguistic rule for the formation of words)
Meaning:
A basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
principle; rule
Context example:
their principles of composition characterized all their works
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
generalisation; generality; generalization (an idea or conclusion having general application)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rule"):
feng shui (rules in Chinese philosophy that govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to patterns of yin and yang and the flow of energy (qi); the favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into consideration in designing and siting buildings and graves and furniture)
yin (the dark negative feminine principle in Chinese dualistic cosmology)
yang (the bright positive masculine principle in Chinese dualistic cosmology)
pillar (a fundamental principle or practice)
Meaning:
A rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
principle; rule
Context examples:
the principle of the conservation of mass / the principle of jet propulsion / the right-hand rule for inductive fields
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
law; law of nature (a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rule"):
principle of liquid displacement ((hydrostatics) the volume of a body immersed in a fluid is equal to the volume of the displaced fluid)
Huygens' principle of superposition; principle of superposition (the displacement of any point due to the superposition of wave systems is equal to the sum of the displacements of the individual waves at that point)
principle of superposition; superposition; superposition principle ((geology) the principle that in a series of stratified sedimentary rocks the lowest stratum is the oldest)
mass action; mass-action principle ((neruology) the principle that the cortex of the brain operates as a coordinated system with large masses of neural tissue involved in all complex functioning)
localisation; localisation of function; localisation principle; localization; localization of function; localization principle ((physiology) the principle that specific functions have relatively circumscribed locations in some particular part or organ of the body)
principle of equivalence ((physics) the principle that an observer has no way of distinguishing whether his laboratory is in a uniform gravitational field or is in an accelerated frame of reference)
law of parsimony; Occam's Razor; Ockham's Razor; principle of parsimony (the principle that entities should not be multiplied needlessly; the simplest of two competing theories is to be preferred)
Naegele's rule (rule for calculating an expected delivery date; subtract three months from the first day of the last menstrual period and add seven days to that date)
mass-energy equivalence ((physics) the principle that a measured quantity of mass is equivalent (according to relativity theory) to a measured quantity of energy)
Gresham's Law ((economics) the principle that when two kinds of money having the same denominational value are in circulation the intrinsically more valuable money will be hoarded and the money of lower intrinsic value will circulate more freely until the intrinsically more valuable money is driven out of circulation; bad money drives out good; credited to Sir Thomas Gresham)
Le Chatelier principle; Le Chatelier's law; Le Chatelier's principle; Le Chatelier-Braun principle (the principle that if any change is imposed on a system that is in equilibrium then the system tends to adjust to a new equilibrium counteracting the change)
Gestalt law of organization; Gestalt principle of organization (a principle of Gestalt psychology that identifies factors leading to particular forms of perceptual organization)
Meaning:
The duration of a monarch's or government's power
Classified under:
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations
Context example:
during the rule of Elizabeth
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
continuance; duration (the period of time during which something continues)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rule"):
regency (the period of time during which a regent governs)
Instance hyponyms:
Regency (the period from 1811-1820 when the Prince of Wales was regent during George III's periods of insanity)
Meaning:
Dominance or power through legal authority
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Synonyms:
dominion; rule
Context examples:
France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa / the rule of Caesar
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
ascendance; ascendancy; ascendence; ascendency; control; dominance (the state that exists when one person or group has power over another)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rule"):
suzerainty (the position or authority of a suzerain)
reign; sovereignty (royal authority; the dominion of a monarch)
raj (British dominion over India (1757-1947))
paramountcy (the state of being paramount; the highest rank or authority)
Meaning:
Directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Context example:
he knew the rules of chess
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
direction; instruction (a message describing how something is to be done)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rule"):
ground rule ((baseball) a special rule (as in baseball) dealing with situations that arise due to the nature of the playing grounds)
Holonyms ("rule" is a part of...):
book; rule book (a collection of rules or prescribed standards on the basis of which decisions are made)
Meaning:
Any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Context example:
the rule of St. Dominic
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
direction; instruction (a message describing how something is to be done)
Meaning:
(mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
formula; rule
Context examples:
he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs / he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
procedure; process (a particular course of action intended to achieve a result)
Domain category:
math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rule"):
metarule (a rule that describes how other rules should be used (as in AI))
algorithm; algorithmic program; algorithmic rule (a precise rule (or set of rules) specifying how to solve some problem)
heuristic; heuristic program; heuristic rule (a commonsense rule (or set of rules) intended to increase the probability of solving some problem)
recursion ((mathematics) an expression such that each term is generated by repeating a particular mathematical operation)
Meaning:
Measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
ruler; rule
Hypernyms ("rule" is a kind of...):
measure; measuring rod; measuring stick (measuring instrument having a sequence of marks at regular intervals; used as a reference in making measurements)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rule"):
carpenter's rule (a rule used by a carpenter)
foot rule (a ruler one foot long)
meterstick; metrestick (a rule one meter long (usually marked off in centimeters and millimeters))
yard measure; yardstick (a ruler or tape that is three feet long)
• RULE (verb)
Meaning:
Exercise authority over; as of nations
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
rule; govern
Context example:
Who is governing the country now?
Hypernyms (to "rule" is one way to...):
command; control (exercise authoritative control or power over)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "rule"):
reign (have sovereign power)
dictate (rule as a dictator)
misgovern (govern badly)
throne (sit on the throne as a ruler)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Decide with authority
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
decree; rule
Context example:
The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed
Hypernyms (to "rule" is one way to...):
decide; determine; make up one's mind (reach, make, or come to a decision about something)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "rule"):
override; overrule; overthrow; overturn; reverse (rule against)
rule in; rule out (include or exclude by determining judicially or in agreement with rules)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Also:
rule out (make impossible, especially beforehand)
Meaning:
Be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
prevail; predominate; dominate; reign; rule
Context examples:
Money reigns supreme here / Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "rule"):
override (prevail over)
redound (be excessive in quantity)
overarch (be central or dominant)
outbalance; outweigh; overbalance; preponderate (weigh more heavily)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Decide on and make a declaration about
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
rule; find
Context example:
find someone guilty
Hypernyms (to "rule" is one way to...):
judge; label; pronounce (pronounce judgment on)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s something Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Hypernyms (to "rule" is one way to...):
accompany; attach to; come with; go with (be associated with)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Mark or draw with a ruler
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Context example:
rule the margins
Hypernyms (to "rule" is one way to...):
draw (represent by making a drawing of, as with a pencil, chalk, etc. on a surface)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Keep in check
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
harness; rein; rule
Context example:
rule one's temper
Hypernyms (to "rule" is one way to...):
bound; confine; limit; restrain; restrict; throttle; trammel (place limits on (extent or access))
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
