Rack Meaning
/ɹæk/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA series of one or more shelves, stacked one above the other.
nounAny of various kinds of frame for holding luggage or other objects on a vehicle or vessel.
Sentence Examples
Rack your brains a little harder.
That car has a roof rack.
Hang your coat and hat up on the rack over there.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
She placed the wine bottles on the wooden ____ in the cellar.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She placed the freshly baked loaves on the cooling ____ and left them to rest for an hour.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English rakke, rekke, from Middle Dutch rac, recke, rec (Dutch rek), see rekken.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Ay, but I fear you speak upon the rack, / Where men enforced do speak anything."
— c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
"During the troubles of the fifteenth century, a rack was introduced into the Tower, and was occasionally used under the plea of political necessity."
— 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter I, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
"Chief Stevens approached my rack and repeatedly ordered me to vacate my rack and report to the working party."
— 2008, Byron L. Smith, Prescription Music, →ISBN, page 33:
"By the time I had unpacked my sea bag, made my rack, and finished a good long hot shower, it was late in the evening."
— 2010, Herb Brewer, Chronicles of a Marine Rifleman: Vietnam, 1965-1966, →ISBN, page 171:
"I took off my helmet, sat it gently down at the head of my rack on the wooden deck, plopped my butt down on my rack again, and began taking off my stateside assbusting boots."
— 2016, Cpl. Osborn R. E, Like Killing Rats, →ISBN:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She placed the wine bottles on the wooden ____ in the cellar.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She placed the freshly baked loaves on the cooling ____ and left them to rest for an hour.