Noun
1. a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior;
"it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast""short haircuts were the regulation"2. something regarded as a normative example;
"the convention of not naming the main character""violence is the rule not the exception""his formula for impressing visitors"3. prescribed guide for conduct or action
4. (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
5. a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct;
"their principles of composition characterized all their works"6. a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system;
"the principle of the conservation of mass""the principle of jet propulsion""the right-hand rule for inductive fields"7. the duration of a monarch's or government's power;
"during the rule of Elizabeth"8. dominance or power through legal authority;
"France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa""the rule of Caesar"9. directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted;
"he knew the rules of chess"10. any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order;
"the rule of St. Dominic"11. (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems;
"he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs""he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials"12. measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths
Verb
1. exercise authority over; as of nations;
"Who is governing the country now?"2. decide with authority;
"The King decreed that all first-born males should be killed"3. be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance;
"Money reigns supreme here""Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"4. decide on and make a declaration about;
"find someone guilty"5. have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
6. mark or draw with a ruler;
"rule the margins"7. keep in check;
"rule one's temper"