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rate1

[reyt]
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noun
  1. the amount of a charge or payment with reference to some basis of calculation: a high rate of interest on loans.
  2. a certain quantity or amount of one thing considered in relation to a unit of another thing and used as a standard or measure: at the rate of 60 miles an hour.
  3. a fixed charge per unit of quantity: a rate of 10 cents a pound.
  4. price; cost: to cut rates on all home furnishings.
  5. degree of speed, progress, etc.: to work at a rapid rate.
  6. degree or comparative extent of action or procedure: the rate of increase in work output.
  7. relative condition or quality; grade, class, or sort.
  8. assigned position in any of a series of graded classes; rating.
  9. Insurance. the premium charge per unit of insurance.
  10. a charge by a common carrier for transportation, sometimes including certain services involved in rendering such transportation.
  11. a wage paid on a specified time basis: a salary figured on an hourly rate.
  12. a charge or price established in accordance with a scale or standard: hotel rates based on length of stay.
  13. Horology. the relative adherence of a timepiece to perfect timekeeping, measured in terms of the amount of time gained or lost within a certain period.
  14. Usually rates. British.
    1. a tax on property for some local purpose.
    2. any tax assessed and paid to a local government, as any city tax or district tax.
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verb (used with object), rat·ed, rat·ing.
  1. to estimate the value or worth of; appraise: to rate a student's class performance.
  2. to esteem, consider, or account: He was rated one of the best writers around.
  3. to fix at a certain rate, as of charge or payment.
  4. to value for purposes of taxation or the like.
  5. to make subject to the payment of a certain rate or tax.
  6. to place in a certain rank, class, etc., as a ship or a sailor; give a specific rating to.
  7. to be considered or treated as worthy of; merit: an event that doesn't even rate a mention in most histories of the period.
  8. to arrange for the conveyance of (goods) at a certain rate.
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verb (used without object), rat·ed, rat·ing.
  1. to have value, standing, etc.: a performance that didn't rate very high in the competition.
  2. to have position in a certain class.
  3. to rank very high in estimation: The new teacher really rates with our class.
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Idioms
  1. at any rate,
    1. in any event; in any case.
    2. at least: It was a mediocre film, but at any rate there was one outstanding individual performance.
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Origin of rate1

1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English rate monetary value, estimated amount, proportional part < Medieval Latin rata < Latin (prō) ratā (parte) (according to) an estimated (part), ratā ablative singular of rata, feminine of ratus, past participle of rērī to judge; (v.) late Middle English raten to estimate the value (of), derivative of the noun

Synonyms

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5. pace. 15. rank, classify, measure.

rate2

[reyt]
verb (used with or without object), rat·ed, rat·ing.
  1. to chide vehemently; scold.
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Origin of rate2

1350–1400; Middle English (a)raten, perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Swedish, Norwegian rata to reject
Related formsrat·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

estimatequotapercentageamountstandardfigurepricetaxcosttolltariffpaceflowtimecountappraiseconsidergradeevaluateregard

Examples from the Web for rate

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • At any rate, I won't be coward enough to try to hide it from her.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • This one, at the rate I have observed, will not last so long.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • At any rate, she has less freedom and more obligations under her contract.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • At any rate, if the lady of the house objected to it, it could return with Mistress Randall.

    The Armourer's Prentices

    Charlotte M. Yonge

  • It is the superintendent of the factory in our village—a man rich, or, at any rate, well-to-do.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

British Dictionary definitions for rate

rate1

noun
  1. a quantity or amount considered in relation to or measured against another quantity or amounta rate of 70 miles an hour
    1. a price or charge with reference to a standard or scalerate of interest; rate of discount
    2. (as modifier)a rate card
  3. a charge made per unit for a commodity, service, etc
  4. See rates
  5. the relative speed of progress or change of something variable; pacehe works at a great rate; the rate of production has doubled
    1. relative quality; class or grade
    2. (in combination)first-rate ideas
  7. statistics a measure of the frequency of occurrence of a given event, such as births and deaths, usually expressed as the number of times the event occurs for every thousand of the total population considered
  8. a wage calculated against a unit of time
  9. the amount of gain or loss of a timepiece
  10. at any rate in any case; at all events; anyway
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verb (mainly tr)
  1. (also intr) to assign or receive a position on a scale of relative values; rankhe is rated fifth in the world
  2. to estimate the value of; evaluatewe rate your services highly
  3. to be worthy of; deservethis hotel does not rate four stars
  4. to consider; regardI rate him among my friends
  5. British to assess the value of (property) for the purpose of local taxation
  6. slang to think highly ofthe clients do not rate the new system
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Word Origin

C15: from Old French, from Medieval Latin rata, from Latin prō ratā parte according to a fixed proportion, from ratus fixed, from rērī to think, decide

rate2

verb
  1. (tr) to scold or criticize severely; rebuke harshly
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Word Origin

C14: perhaps related to Swedish rata to chide
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 rate

n.

"estimated value or worth," early 15c., from Old French rate "price, value" and directly from Medieval Latin rata (pars) "fixed (amount)," from Latin rata "fixed, settled," fem. past participle of reri "to reckon, think" (see reason (n.)). Meaning "degree of speed" (prop. ratio between distance and time) is attested from 1650s. Currency exchange sense first recorded 1727. First-rate, second-rate, etc. are 1640s, from British Navy division of ships into six classes based on size and strength. Phrase at any rate originally (1610s) meant "at any cost;" weakened sense of "at least" is attested by 1760.

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v.1

"to scold," late 14c., probably from Old French reter "to impute blame, accuse, find fault with," from Latin reputare "to count over, reflect," in Vulgar Latin, "to impute, blame" (see reputation). Related: Rated; rating.

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v.2

"estimate the worth or value of," mid-15c., from rate (n.). Intransitive sense of "have a certain value, rank, or standing" is from 1809; specifically as "have high value" from 1928. Related: Rated; rating.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
rate in Medicine

rate

(rāt)
n.
  1. A quantity measured with respect to another measured quantity.
  2. A measure of a part with respect to a whole; a proportion.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Idioms and Phrases with rate

rate

see at any rate; at this rate; x-rated.

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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.