ranch

American  

[ranch] / ræntʃ /

noun

1. an establishment maintained for raising livestock under range conditions.

2. Chiefly Western U.S. and Canada. a large farm used primarily to raise one kind of crop or animal.

   a mink ranch.

3. a dude ranch.

4. the persons employed or living on a ranch.

5. ranch house.

6. ranch dressing.

   I’ll have the small salad, with ranch on the side.

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verb (used without object)

1. to manage or work on a ranch.

ranch British  

/ rɑːntʃ /

noun

1. a large tract of land, esp one in North America, together with the necessary personnel, buildings, and equipment, for rearing livestock, esp cattle

2. 1. any large farm for the rearing of a particular kind of livestock or crop

      a mink ranch

   2. the buildings, land, etc, connected with it

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verb

1. (intr) to manage or run a ranch

2. (tr) to raise (animals) on or as if on a ranch

Other Word Forms

• ranchless adjective
• ranchlike adjective
• unranched adjective

Etymology

Origin of ranch

An Americanism dating from 1800–10; from Spanish rancho “farm, cattle farm, ranch”; rancho

Example Sentences

His father and uncles were in the cattle business, but it was soon apparent that young Larry, who was slight and frail, had no future in ranching.

From The Wall Street Journal

At a horse ranch outside the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, Leva Cabrera offered the nephews $20 million for a single shipment.

From The Wall Street Journal

One word, like was the name of their ranch, I think it began with B…”Bonanza”!

From Los Angeles Times

The state previously shelved its initial investigation into the ranch in 2019 following a request from federal prosecutors in New York.

From BBC

The ladies were here; the men would leave the ranch, as we call it.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dairy farm
• estate
• homestead
• land
• plantation