Adjacent Words

Range definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

RANGE, v.t.
1. To set in a row or in rows; to place in a regular line, lines or ranks; to dispose in the proper order; as, to range troops in a body; to range men or ships in the order of battle.
2. To dispose in proper classes, orders or divisions; as, to range plants and animals in genera and species.
3. To dispose in a proper manner; to place in regular method; in a general sense. Range and arrange are used indifferently in the same sense.
4. To rove over; to pass over.
Teach him to range the ditch and force the brake.
[This use is elliptical, over being omitted.]
5. To sail or pass in a direction parallel to or near; as, to range the coast, that is, along the coast.
RANGE, v.i.
1. To rove at large; to wander without restraint or direction.
As a roaring lion and a ranging bear. Proverbs 28.
2. To be placed in order; to be ranked.
'Tis better to be lowly born, and range with humble livers in content -
[In this sense, rank is now used.]
3. To lie in a particular direction.
Which way thy forests range -
We say, the front of a house ranges with the line of the street.
4. To sail or pass near or in the direction of; as, to range along the coast.
RANGE, n. [See Rank.]
1. A row; a rank; things in a line; as a range of buildings; a range of mountains; ranges of colors.
2. A class; an order.
The next range of beings above him are the immaterial intelligences -
3. A wandering or roving; excursion.
He may take a range all the world over.
4. Space or room for excursion.
A man has not enough range of thought -
5. Compass or extent of excursion; space taken in by any thing extended or ranked in order; as the range of Newton's thought. No philosopher has embraced a wider range.
Far as creation's ample range extends.
6. The step of a ladder. [Corrupted in popular language to rung.]
7. A kitchen grate.
8. A bolting sieve to sift meal.
9. In gunnery, the path of a bullet or bomb, or the line it describes from the mouth of the piece to the point where it lodges; or the whole distance which it passes. When a cannon lies horizontally, it is called the right level, or point blank range; when the muzzle is elevated to 45 degrees, it is called the utmost range. To this may be added the ricochet, the rolling or bounding shot, with the piece elevated from three to six degrees.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; "a piano has a greater range than the human voice"; "the ambit of municipal legislation"; "within the compass of this article"; "within the scope of an investigation"; "outside the reach of the law"; "in the political orbit of a world power" [syn: scope, range, reach, orbit, compass, ambit]
2: the limits within which something can be effective; "range of motion"; "he was beyond the reach of their fire" [syn: range, reach]
3: a large tract of grassy open land on which livestock can graze; "they used to drive the cattle across the open range every spring"; "he dreamed of a home on the range"
4: a series of hills or mountains; "the valley was between two ranges of hills"; "the plains lay just beyond the mountain range" [syn: range, mountain range, range of mountains, chain, mountain chain, chain of mountains]
5: a place for shooting (firing or driving) projectiles of various kinds; "the army maintains a missile range in the desert"; "any good golf club will have a range where you can practice"
6: a variety of different things or activities; "he answered a range of questions"; "he was impressed by the range and diversity of the collection"
7: (mathematics) the set of values of the dependent variable for which a function is defined; "the image of f(x) = x^2 is the set of all non-negative real numbers if the domain of the function is the set of all real numbers" [syn: image, range, range of a function]
8: the limit of capability; "within the compass of education" [syn: compass, range, reach, grasp]
9: a kitchen appliance used for cooking food; "dinner was already on the stove" [syn: stove, kitchen stove, range, kitchen range, cooking stove] v
1: change or be different within limits; "Estimates for the losses in the earthquake range as high as $2 billion"; "Interest rates run from 5 to 10 percent"; "The instruments ranged from tuba to cymbals"; "My students range from very bright to dull" [syn: range, run]
2: move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment; "The gypsies roamed the woods"; "roving vagabonds"; "the wandering Jew"; "The cattle roam across the prairie"; "the laborers drift from one town to the next"; "They rolled from town to town" [syn: roll, wander, swan, stray, tramp, roam, cast, ramble, rove, range, drift, vagabond]
3: have a range; be capable of projecting over a certain distance, as of a gun; "This gun ranges over two miles"
4: range or extend over; occupy a certain area; "The plants straddle the entire state" [syn: range, straddle]
5: lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line; "lay out the clothes"; "lay out the arguments" [syn: range, array, lay out, set out]
6: feed as in a meadow or pasture; "the herd was grazing" [syn: crop, browse, graze, range, pasture]
7: let eat; "range the animals in the prairie"
8: assign a rank or rating to; "how would you rank these students?"; "The restaurant is rated highly in the food guide" [syn: rate, rank, range, order, grade, place]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, row of persons, from Anglo-French range, renge, from renger to range Date: 14th century 1. a. (1) a series of things in a line ; row (2) a series of mountains (3) one of the north-south rows of townships in a United States public-land survey that are numbered east and west from the principal meridian of the survey b. an aggregate of individuals in one order c. a direction line 2. a cooking stove that has an oven and a flat top with burners or heating elements 3. a. a place that may be ranged over b. an open region over which animals (as livestock) may roam and feed c. the region throughout which a kind of organism or ecological community naturally lives or occurs 4. the act of ranging about 5. a. (1) the horizontal distance to which a projectile can be propelled (2) the horizontal distance between a weapon and target b. the maximum distance a vehicle or craft can travel without refueling c. (1) a place where shooting is practiced (2) driving range 6. a. the space or extent included, covered, or used ; scope b. the extent of pitch covered by a melody or lying within the capacity of a voice or instrument 7. a. a sequence, series, or scale between limits <a wide range of patterns> b. the limits of a series ; the distance or extent between possible extremes c. the difference between the least and greatest values of an attribute or of the variable of a frequency distribution 8. a. the set of values a function may take on b. the class of admissible values of a variable 9. line 11 Synonyms: range, gamut, compass, sweep, scope, orbit mean the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control). range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities <the entire range of human experience>. gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another <a performance that ran the gamut of emotions>. compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity <your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study>. sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity <the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity>. scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible <as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened>. orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation <within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change>. II. verb (ranged; ranging) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French renger, from renc, reng line, place, row — more at rank Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to set in a row or in the proper order b. to place among others in a position or situation c. to assign to a category ; classify 2. a. to rove over or through b. to sail or pass along 3. to arrange (an anchor cable) on deck 4. to graze (livestock) on a range intransitive verb 1. a. to roam at large or freely b. to move over an area so as to explore it 2. to take a position 3. a. to correspond in direction or line ; align b. to extend in a particular direction 4. to have range 5. to change or differ within limits 6. of an organism to live or occur in or be native to a region

U.S. Military Dictionary

1. The distance between any given point and an object or target. 2. Extent or distance limiting the operation or action of something, such as the range of an aircraft, ship, or gun. 3. The distance that can be covered over a hard surface by a ground vehicle, with its rated payload, using the fuel in its tank and its cans normally carried as part of the ground vehicle equipment. 4. Area equipped for practice in shooting at targets. In this meaning, also called target range.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a the region between limits of variation, esp. as representing a scope of effective operation (a voice of astonishing range; the whole range of politics). b such limits. c a limited scale or series (the range of the thermometer readings is about 10 degrees). 2 the area included in or concerned with something. 3 a the distance attainable by a gun or projectile (the enemy are out of range). b the distance between a gun or projectile and its objective. 4 a row, series, line, or tier, esp. of mountains or buildings. 5 a an open or enclosed area with targets for shooting. b a testing-ground for military equipment. 6 a a fireplace with ovens and hotplates for cooking. b US an electric or gas cooker. 7 the area over which a thing, esp. a plant or animal, is distributed (gives the ranges of all species). 8 the distance that can be covered by a vehicle or aircraft without refuelling. 9 the distance between a camera and the subject to be photographed. 10 the extent of time covered by a forecast etc. 11 a a large area of open land for grazing or hunting. b a tract over which one wanders. 12 lie, direction (the range of the strata is east and west). --v. 1 intr. a reach; lie spread out; extend; be found or occur over a specified district; vary between limits (ages ranging from twenty to sixty). b run in a line (ranges north and south). 2 tr. (usu. in passive or refl.) place or arrange in a row or ranks or in a specified situation or order or company (ranged their troops; ranged themselves with the majority party; trees ranged in ascending order of height). 3 intr. rove, wander (ranged through the woods; his thoughts range over past, present, and future). 4 tr. traverse in all directions (ranging the woods). 5 Printing a tr. Brit. make (type) lie flush at the ends of successive lines. b intr. (of type) lie flush. 6 intr. a (often foll. by with) be level. b (foll. by with, among) rank; find one's right place (ranges with the great writers). 7 intr. a (of a gun) send a projectile over a specified distance (ranges over a mile). b (of a projectile) cover a specified distance. c obtain the range of a target by adjustment after firing past it or short of it. Phrases and idioms: ranging-pole (or -rod) Surveying a pole or rod for setting a straight line. Etymology: ME f. OF range row, rank f. ranger f. rang RANK(1)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Range Range, v. i. 1. To rove at large; to wander without restraint or direction; to roam. Like a ranging spaniel that barks at every bird he sees. --Burton. 2. To have range; to change or differ within limits; to be capable of projecting, or to admit of being projected, especially as to horizontal distance; as, the temperature ranged through seventy degrees Fahrenheit; the gun ranges three miles; the shot ranged four miles. 3. To be placed in order; to be ranked; to admit of arrangement or classification; to rank. And range with humble livers in content. --Shak. 4. To have a certain direction; to correspond in direction; to be or keep in a corresponding line; to trend or run; -- often followed by with; as, the front of a house ranges with the street; to range along the coast. Which way the forests range. --Dryden. 5. (Biol.) To be native to, or live in, a certain district or region; as, the peba ranges from Texas to Paraguay. Syn: To rove; roam; ramble; wander; stroll.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Range Range, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ranged; p. pr. & vb. n. Ranging.] [OE. rengen, OF. rengier, F. ranger, OF. renc row, rank, F. rang; of German origin. See Rane, n.] 1. To set in a row, or in rows; to place in a regular line or lines, or in ranks; to dispose in the proper order; to rank; as, to range soldiers in line. Maccabeus ranged his army by hands. --2 Macc. xii. 20. 2. To place (as a single individual) among others in a line, row, or order, as in the ranks of an army; -- usually, reflexively and figuratively, (in the sense) to espouse a cause, to join a party, etc. It would be absurd in me to range myself on the side of the Duke of Bedford and the corresponding society. --Burke. 3. To separate into parts; to sift. [Obs.] --Holland. 4. To dispose in a classified or in systematic order; to arrange regularly; as, to range plants and animals in genera and species. 5. To rove over or through; as, to range the fields. Teach him to range the ditch, and force the brake. --Gay. 6. To sail or pass in a direction parallel to or near; as, to range the coast. Note: Compare the last two senses (5 and 6) with the French ranger une c[^o]te. 7. (Biol.) To be native to, or to live in; to frequent.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Range Range, n. [From Range, v.: cf. F. rang['e]e.] 1. A series of things in a line; a row; a rank; as, a range of buildings; a range of mountains. 2. An aggregate of individuals in one rank or degree; an order; a class. The next range of beings above him are the immaterial intelligences. --Sir M. Hale. 3. The step of a ladder; a rung. --Clarendon. 4. A kitchen grate. [Obs.] He was bid at his first coming to take off the range, and let down the cinders. --L'Estrange. 5. An extended cooking apparatus of cast iron, set in brickwork, and affording conveniences for various ways of cooking; also, a kind of cooking stove. 6. A bolting sieve to sift meal. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] 7. A wandering or roving; a going to and fro; an excursion; a ramble; an expedition. He may take a range all the world over. --South. 8. That which may be ranged over; place or room for excursion; especially, a region of country in which cattle or sheep may wander and pasture. 9. Extent or space taken in by anything excursive; compass or extent of excursion; reach; scope; discursive power; as, the range of one's voice, or authority. Far as creation's ample range extends. --Pope. The range and compass of Hammond's knowledge filled the whole circle of the arts. --Bp. Fell. A man has not enough range of thought. --Addison. 10. (Biol.) The region within which a plant or animal naturally lives. 11. (Gun.) (a) The horizontal distance to which a shot or other projectile is carried. (b) Sometimes, less properly, the trajectory of a shot or projectile. (c) A place where shooting, as with cannons or rifles, is practiced. 12. In the public land system of the United States, a row or line of townships lying between two succession meridian lines six miles apart. Note: The meridians included in each great survey are numbered in order east and west from the ``principal meridian'' of that survey, and the townships in the range are numbered north and south from the ``base line,'' which runs east and west; as, township No. 6, N., range 7, W., from the fifth principal meridian. 13. (Naut.) See Range of cable, below. Range of accommodation (Optics), the distance between the near point and the far point of distinct vision, -- usually measured and designated by the strength of the lens which if added to the refracting media of the eye would cause the rays from the near point to appear as if they came from the far point. Range finder (Gunnery), an instrument, or apparatus, variously constructed, for ascertaining the distance of an inaccessible object, -- used to determine what elevation must be given to a gun in order to hit the object; a position finder. Range of cable (Naut.), a certain length of slack cable ranged along the deck preparatory to letting go the anchor. Range work (Masonry), masonry of squared stones laid in courses each of which is of even height throughout the length of the wall; -- distinguished from broken range work, which consists of squared stones laid in courses not continuously of even height. To get the range of (an object) (Gun.), to find the angle at which the piece must be raised to reach (the object) without carrying beyond.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(ranges, ranging, ranged) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. A range of things is a number of different things of the same general kind. A wide range of colours and patterns are available... The two men discussed a range of issues... N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N of n 2. A range is the complete group that is included between two points on a scale of measurement or quality. The average age range is between 35 and 55. ...properties available in the price range they are looking for. N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft n N 3. The range of something is the maximum area in which it can reach things or detect things. The 120mm mortar has a range of 18,000 yards... N-COUNT: usu with supp 4. If things range between two points or range from one point to another, they vary within these points on a scale of measurement or quality. They range in price from $3 to $15. ...offering merchandise ranging from the everyday to the esoteric. ...temperatures ranging between 5°C and 20°C. VERB: V from amount to amount, V from n to n, V between pl-amount 5. A range of mountains or hills is a line of them. ...the massive mountain ranges to the north. N-COUNT: usu with supp 6. A rifle range or a shooting range is a place where people can practise shooting at targets. It reminds me of my days on the rifle range preparing for duty in Vietnam. N-COUNT: usu supp N 7. A range or kitchen range is an old-fashioned metal cooker. (BRIT) N-COUNT: usu with supp 8. A range or kitchen range is a large metal device for cooking food using gas or electricity. A range consists of a grill, an oven, and some gas or electric rings. (AM; in BRIT, usually use cooker) N-COUNT 9. see also free-range 10. If something is in range or within range, it is near enough to be reached or detected. If it is out of range, it is too far away to be reached or detected. Cars are driven through the mess, splashing everyone in range. ...a base within range of enemy missiles... The fish stayed 50 yards offshore, well out of range. PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v 11. If you see or hit something at close range or from close range, you are very close to it when you see it or hit it. If you do something at a range of half a mile, for example, you are half a mile away from it when you do it. He was shot in the head at close range... The enemy opened fire at a range of only 20 yards. PHRASE: PHR after v

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ranj: "Range" and "rank" have the same derivation, and in the sense of a "row" (of men, etc.) they were formerly interchangeable. "Range" with this meaning is found in 2Ki 11:8,15 the King James Version parallel 2Ch 23:14 (the Revised Version (British and American) "rank"; sedherah, "row"). Hence, "to range" is "to set in a line" (Judith 2:16; 2 Macc 12:20, diatasso) or "to move in a line" or, simply, "to roam," whence "a ranging bear" (Pr 28:15; shaqaq, "run to and fro"). A cooking "range" is a stove on which pots, etc., can be set in a row, but the kirayim of Le 11:35 is a much more primitive affair, composed, probably, of two plates (kirayim is a dual). In Job 39:8 "range of the mountains" is good modern use, but ythr, should be pointed yathur (not yethur as in Massoretic Text) and connected with tur, "search." So translate. "He searcheth out the mountains as his pasture."

Burton Scott Easton

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Row, rank, line, tier, file. 2. Class, order, kind, sort. 3. Excursion, wandering, ramble, expedition, roving. 4. Scope, sweep, compass, extent, reach, amplitude, latitude, command, discursive power. 5. (Mus.) Compass, register. II. v. a. 1. Class, rank, arrange, set in a row, dispose in order. 2. Rove over, pass over. 3. Sail along, pass near. III. v. n. 1. Rove, ramble, wander, stroll, roam, course, straggle, rove at large. 2. Consort, be classed, be ranked, rank. 3. Lie, run, bend, correspond in direction.

Moby Thesaurus

Alps, Andes, Caucasus, Himalayas, Indian file, Rockies, adjust, aesthetic distance, agora, aim, air transport, air travel, airfreight, align, allocate, allot, alphabetize, alps on alps, ambit, amount, amphitheater, ample scope, amplitude, analyze, apportion, area, arena, arrange, array, articulation, assort, assortment, athletic field, auditorium, auditory range, azimuth, background, bank, bat around, bear garden, bearing, bent, bias, bigness, blank check, body, bowl, boxing ring, bracket, breadth, break down, bulk, bull ring, bum, buzz, caliber, campo, campus, canvas, carry, carry out, carrying distance, carte blanche, catalog, catalogue, categorize, catena, catenation, chain, chain reaction, chaining, choice, chromatic scale, circle, circumambulate, circus, class, classify, clear sight, clearance, cockpit, codify, coliseum, collection, collocate, color vision, colosseum, command, compass, compose, concatenation, cone vision, confines, connection, consecution, continuum, cooker, cordillera, count ties, course, cover, coverage, current, cut, cycle, daylight vision, deal, deal out, deep space, degree, depth, depths of space, descent, diameter, diapason, differ, digest, dimension, dimensions, direction, direction line, discernment, dispose, distance, distribute, divagate, divergence, divide, do, dodecuple scale, domain, domination, drift, drone, earreach, earshot, elbowroom, encompass, endless belt, endless round, enharmonic scale, enlarge, environ, expanse, expansion, extend, extend out, extension, extent, eye, eye-mindedness, eyereach, eyeshot, eyesight, farness, farsight, farsightedness, field, field of view, field of vision, file, filiation, fix, flit, floor, fluctuate, forum, free course, free hand, free play, free scope, full scope, full swing, gad, gad about, gallivant, gamut, gauge, girth, go, go about, go out, go over, go the rounds, gradation, grade, graduate, grass, grass veld, grassland, grazing, great scale, greatness, ground, group, gym, gymnasium, habitat, hall, haugh, haughland, haunt, heading, hearing, height, helmsmanship, hippodrome, hit the road, hit the trail, hobo, hold, home, horizon, hum, inclination, incline, index, infinity, interval, jaunt, keen sight, ken, kind, knock about, knock around, largeness, latitude, lay, lea, leap, leeway, length, level, lie, light-years, limit, limit of vision, line, line of direction, line of march, line of sight, line up, lineage, list, lists, llano, locale, locality, long rope, lot, magnitude, major scale, maneuvering space, margin, mark, marketplace, marshal, mass, massif, mat, match, matter, mead, meadow, meadow land, meander, measure, measurement, melodic minor, migrate, mileage, milieu, minor scale, monotone, mooch, mountain range, move, naked eye, native environment, navigation, neighborhood, nexus, night vision, no holds barred, nomadize, notch, nuance, number, octave scale, open forum, open space, orbit, order, organize, orientation, outdistance, outlie, outlook, outlook over, outrange, outstretch, overpass, palaestra, pampa, pampas, panorama, parade ground, parcel out, park, parsecs, pas, pass over, pass through, pasturage, pasture, pasture land, patrol, peg, pendulum, pentatonic scale, perambulate, perception, peregrinate, pererrate, period, periodicity, peripheral field, peripheral vision, perspective, perspicacity, perspicuity, photopia, piece, pigeonhole, piloting, pit, pitch, place, plane, plateau, platform, play, plenum, ply, point, powder train, power of sight, prairie, precinct, predispose, prize ring, progression, proportion, proportions, prospect, province, prowl, public square, purlieu, purview, quarter, queue, quick sight, radius, rally, ramble, range out, range over, rank, rate, ratio, reach, reach out, realm, reconnoiter, recurrence, regiment, register, remoteness, remove, reticulation, ring, roam, rod vision, room, rope, rotation, round, routine, rove, row, run, run about, rung, saunter, savanna, scale, scan, scene, scene of action, scenery, scope, scope of vision, scotopia, scour, scour the country, scout, sea room, seeing, selection, sense of sight, separation, sequence, series, set, set out, setting, shade, shadow, shuttle, shuttle service, sierra, sight, sightedness, sightliness, single file, site, size, sort, sound, space, span, spectrum, sphere, spread, squared circle, stadium, stage, stage set, stage setting, stair, stamping ground, standard, steerage, steering, step, steppe, steppeland, stint, straddle, straggle, stray, stretch, stretch out, stride, string, string out, stroll, subdivide, succession, surround, survey, swale, swath, sweep, swing, tabulate, take in, temperament, tendency, tenor, terrain, territory, theater, thread, thrust out, tier, tilting ground, tiltyard, tolerance, track, train, traipse, tramp, transit, travel over, travel through, traverse, tread, trend, tune, tuning, twilight vision, type, unobstructed vision, vagabond, vagabondize, variety, vary, vega, veld, vicinity, view, vision, vista, visual acuity, visual field, visual sense, volume, voyage, walk, walk the tracks, wander, way, wayfare, ways, whole-tone scale, wide berth, width, windrow, wrestling ring