WordWeb Online

1. A principle or condition that customarily governs behaviour
   "it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast";
   - regulation
    
2. Something regarded as a normative example
   "violence is the rule not the exception";
   - convention, normal, pattern, formula
    
3. Prescribed guide for conduct or action
   - prescript
    
4. (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
   - linguistic rule
    
5. A basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
   "their rules of composition characterized all their works";
   - principle
    
6. The duration of a monarch's or government's power
   "during the rule of Elizabeth"
    
7. Dominance or power through legal authority
   "the rule of Caesar";
   - dominion, raj [Asia]
    
8. One of the directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted
   "he knew the rules of chess"
    
9. Any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order
   "the rule of St. Dominic"
    
10. A rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system
    "the right-hand rule for inductive fields";
    - principle
     
11. (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems
    "he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs";
    - formula
     
12. Measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood, metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths
    - ruler

1. Exercise authority over; as of nations
   "Who is ruling the country now?";
   - govern
    
2. Decide with authority
   "The King ruled that all firstborn males should be killed";
   - decree
    
3. Be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
   "Hispanics rule in this neighbourhood";
   - predominate, dominate, reign, prevail
    
4. Decide on and make a declaration about
   "rule someone guilty";
   - find
    
5. Have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
    
6. Mark or draw with a ruler
   "rule the margins"
    
7. Keep in check
   "rule one's temper";
   - harness, rein
    
8. Be exceptionally good or the best
   - excel, stand out, surpass

Derived forms: ruled, rules, ruling

See also: rule out

Type of: accompany, ascendance, ascendancy, ascendence, ascendency, attach to, come with, command, concept, conception, construct, continuance, control, decide, determine, direction, dominance, draw, duration, generalisation [Brit], generality, generalization, go with, hold back, instruction, judge, keep, keep back, label, law, law of nature, make up one's mind, measure, measuring rod, measuring stick, practice, procedure, process, pronounce, restrain

Part of: book, rule book

Encyclopedia: Rule, Steve