ranch
[ranch]
- an establishment maintained for raising livestock under range conditions.
- Chiefly Western U.S. and Canada. a large farm used primarily to raise one kind of crop or animal: a mink ranch.
- a dude ranch.
- the persons employed or living on a ranch.
- ranch house.
Show More
- to manage or work on a ranch.
Show More
Origin of ranch
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ranch
Contemporary Examples
My dad had worked for a while as a ranch hand, and his “Open Road” was a remnant of those days.
On November 23, from his ranch in Texas, Johnson spoke on the phone with acting Secretary of State George Ball.
He does not remember exactly when they first moved onto the ranch.
Manson might get out, Spahn suggested, or there might still be people on the ranch who were loyal to him.
The police nonetheless warned the hippies against trespassing, and for a long time it was again very quiet on the ranch at night.
Historical Examples
He was tough, but the ranch horses of John Merchant came out from a night of rest.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
It's Bill that bled me, and bled me until I've had to soak a mortgage on the ranch.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
It was dark most of the way, and it was midnight when I got to the ranch.
Old Blake would give him work on his ranch over there, that was a cinch.
Chip, of the Flying UB. M. Bower
Nimrod and I had been lured to the Cuttle Fish ranch to go on a wolf hunt.
A Woman TenderfootGrace Gallatin Seton-Thompson
ranch
- a large tract of land, esp one in North America, together with the necessary personnel, buildings, and equipment, for rearing livestock, esp cattle
- any large farm for the rearing of a particular kind of livestock or cropa mink ranch
- the buildings, land, etc, connected with it
Show More
- (intr) to manage or run a ranch
- (tr) to raise (animals) on or as if on a ranch
Show More
Word Origin
C19: from Mexican Spanish rancho small farm; see rancho
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for ranch
n.
1808, "country house," from American Spanish rancho "small farm, group of farm huts," from Spanish rancho "mess-room," originally, "group of people who eat together," from ranchear "to lodge or station," from Old French ranger "install in position," from rang "row, line" (see rank (n.)).
Sense of "large stock-farm and herding establishment" is from 1831. Of houses, "single-story, split-level" (adj.) from 1950; as a noun from 1960. Ranch-house attested from 1862.
Show More
v.
1866, from ranch (n.). Related: Ranched; ranching.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper