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range

[reynj]
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noun
  1. the extent to which or the limits between which variation is possible: the range of steel prices; a wide range of styles.
  2. the extent or scope of the operation or action of something: within range of vision.
  3. the distance to which a projectile is or may be sent by a weapon.
  4. the distance of the target from the weapon.
  5. an area equipped with targets for practice in shooting weapons: a rifle range.
  6. an area used for flight-testing missiles.
  7. the distance of something to be located from some point of operation, as in sound ranging.
  8. the distance that can be covered by an aircraft, ship, or other vehicle, carrying a normal load without refueling.
  9. Statistics. the difference between the largest and smallest values in a statistical distribution.
  10. a continuous course of masonry of the same height from end to end.
  11. Music. compass(def 4).
  12. Surveying.
    1. the horizontal direction or extension of a survey line established by two or more marked points.
    2. (in U.S. public-land surveys) one of a series of divisions numbered east or west from the principal meridian of the survey and consisting of a row of townships, each six miles square, that are numbered north or south from a base line.
  13. Navigation. a line established by markers or lights on shore for the location of soundings.
  14. a rank, class, or order: in the higher ranges of society.
  15. a row, line, or series, as of persons or things.
  16. an act of ranging or moving around, as over an area or region.
  17. Also called rangeland. an area or tract that is or may be ranged over, especially an open region for the grazing of livestock.
  18. the region over which a population or species is distributed: the range of the Baltimore oriole.
  19. Mathematics. the set of all values attained by a given function throughout its domain.
  20. a chain of mountains forming a single system: the Catskill Range.
  21. a large portable or stationary cooking stove having burners built into the top surface and containing one or more ovens.
  22. Physics. the maximum distance that a charged particle, as a proton, can penetrate a given medium and still maintain sufficient kinetic energy to produce ionization in the medium.
  23. Nautical.
    1. a large cleat for securing various lines, especially the tacks and sheets of courses.
    2. a length of anchor cable laid on deck.
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adjective
  1. working or grazing on a range: range horses; range animals like steer and sheep.
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verb (used with object), ranged, rang·ing.
  1. to draw up or arrange (persons or things) in rows or lines or in a specific position, company, or group: The sergeant ranged the troops in columns of six across.
  2. to place or arrange systematically; set in order; dispose: The members of the cast were ranged in their proper places on stage.
  3. to place in a particular class; classify: They ranged themselves with the liberals.
  4. to make straight, level, or even, as lines of type.
  5. to pass over or through (an area or region) in all directions, as in exploring or searching: They ranged the entire countryside.
  6. to pasture (cattle) on a range.
  7. to direct or train, as a telescope, upon an object.
  8. to obtain the range of (something aimed at or to be located).
  9. Nautical. to lay out (an anchor cable) so that the anchor may descend smoothly.
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verb (used without object), ranged, rang·ing.
  1. to vary within certain limits: prices ranging from $5 to $10.
  2. to have a certain variety of things somehow related: emotions ranging from smugness to despair.
  3. to move around or through a region in all directions, as people or animals.
  4. to rove, roam, or wander: The talk ranged over a variety of subjects.
  5. to stretch out or extend in a line, as things: shabby houses ranged along the road.
  6. to extend, run, or go in a certain direction: a boundary ranging from east and west.
  7. to lie or extend in the same line or plane, as one thing with another or others.
  8. to take up a position in a line or in order.
  9. to extend, be found, or occur over an area or throughout a period, as an animal or plant.
  10. to have a specified range, as a gun, missile, etc.
  11. to find the range, as of something aimed at or to be located.
  12. Nautical. (of an anchored vessel) to swerve or sheer (often followed by about).
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Idioms
  1. in range, (of two or more objects observed from a vessel) located one directly behind the other.
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Origin of range

1350–1400; (noun) Middle English < Old French renge row, derivative of renc line; see rank1; (v.) Middle English rangen < Middle French ranger, Old French rengier, derivative of renc
Related formsnon·rang·ing, adjectivesub·range, nounun·rang·ing, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for range on Thesaurus.com
1. sweep, reach. Range, compass, latitude, scope refer to extent or breadth. Range emphasizes extent and diversity: the range of one's interests. Compass suggests definite limits: within the compass of one's mind. Latitude emphasizes the idea of freedom from narrow confines, thus breadth or extent: granted latitude of action. Scope suggests great freedom but a proper limit: the scope of one's activities; the scope of one's obligations. 14. kind, sort. 15. tier, file. 25. align, rank. 26. array. 36. See roam. 38. lie.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ranging

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The nurses of this hospital are all young,—ranging, say, from nineteen to four and twenty.

  • And every day thereafter found him out and ranging a wider area.

    White Fang

    Jack London

  • But all the Procellariæ are noted for ranging further from land than any other of the sea-birds.

    Storyology

    Benjamin Taylor

  • Ranging alongside, he endeavored to reopen the conversation, but to no purpose.

    The Depot Master

    Joseph C. Lincoln

  • Merle was in the pantry, with a big apron on, ranging jars of preserves on the shelves.

    The Great Hunger

    Johan Bojer

British Dictionary definitions for ranging

range

noun
  1. the limits within which a person or thing can function effectivelythe range of vision
  2. the limits within which any fluctuation takes placea range of values
  3. the total products of a manufacturer, designer, or stockistthe new autumn range
    1. the maximum effective distance of a projectile fired from a weapon
    2. the distance between a target and a weapon
  5. an area set aside for shooting practice or rocket testing
  6. the total distance which a ship, aircraft, or land vehicle is capable of covering without taking on fresh fuelthe range of this car is about 160 miles
  7. physics the distance that a particle of ionizing radiation, such as an electron or proton, can travel through a given medium, esp air, before ceasing to cause ionization
  8. maths logic
    1. (of a function) the set of values that the function takes for all possible argumentsCompare domain (def. 7a)
    2. (of a variable) the set of values that a variable can take
    3. (of a quantifier) the set of values that the variable bound by the quantifier can take
  9. statistics a measure of dispersion obtained by subtracting the smallest from the largest sample values
  10. the extent of pitch difference between the highest and lowest notes of a voice, instrument, etc
  11. US and Canadian
    1. an extensive tract of open land on which livestock can graze
    2. (as modifier)range cattle
  12. the geographical region in which a species of plant or animal normally grows or lives
  13. a rank, row, or series of items
  14. a series or chain of mountains
  15. a large stove with burners and one or more ovens, usually heated by solid fuel
  16. the act or process of ranging
  17. nautical a line of sight taken from the sea along two or more navigational aids that mark a navigable channel
  18. the extension or direction of a survey line, established by marking two or more points
  19. a double-faced bookcase, as in a library
  20. range of significance philosophy logic the set of subjects for which a given predicate is intelligible
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verb
  1. to establish or be situated in a line, row, or series
  2. (tr; often reflexive foll by with) to put into a specific category; classifyshe ranges herself with the angels
  3. (foll by on) to aim or point (a telescope, gun, etc) or (of a gun, telescope, etc) to be pointed or aimed
  4. to establish the distance of (a target) from (a weapon)
  5. (intr) (of a gun or missile) to have a specified range
  6. (when intr , foll by over) to wander about (in) an area; roam (over)
  7. (intr foll by over) (of an animal or plant) to live or grow in its normal habitat
  8. (tr) to put (cattle) to graze on a range
  9. (intr) to fluctuate within specific limitstheir ages range from 18 to 21
  10. (intr) to extend or run in a specific direction
  11. (tr) nautical to coil (an anchor rope or chain) so that it will pay out smoothly
  12. (intr) nautical (of a vessel) to swing back and forth while at anchor
  13. (tr) to make (lines of printers' type) level or even at the margin
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Word Origin

C13: from Old French: row, from ranger to position, from renc line
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 ranging

range

n.

c.1200, "row or line of persons" (especially hunters or soldiers), from Old French range "range, rank" (see range (v.)). General sense of "line, row" is from early 14c.; meaning "row of mountains" is from 1705.

Meaning "scope, extent" first recorded late 15c.; that of "area over which animals seek food" is from 1620s, from the verb. Specific U.S. sense of "series of townships six miles in width" is from 1785. Sense of "distance a gun can send a bullet" is recorded from 1590s; meaning "place used for shooting practice" is from 1862. The cooking appliance so called since mid-15c., for unknown reasons. Originally a stove built into a fireplace with openings on top for multiple operations. Range-finder attested from 1872.

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range

v.

c.1200, rengen, "move over a large area, roam with the purpose of searching or hunting," from Old French ranger, earlier rengier "to place in a row, arrange; get into line," from reng "row, line," from a Germanic source (see rank (n.)). Sense of "to arrange in rows" is recorded from c.1300; intransitive sense of "exist in a row or rows" is from c.1600. Related: Ranged; ranging.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
ranging in Medicine

range

(rānj)
n.
  1. In statistics, the difference or interval between the smallest and largest values in a frequency distribution.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
ranging in Science

range

[rānj]
  1. The set of all values that a given function may have. Compare domain.
  2. The difference between the smallest and largest values in a set of data. If the lowest test score of a group of students is 54 and the highest is 94, the range is 40.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Idioms and Phrases with ranging

range

see at close range.

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.