noun

rack

rak

noun

A framework or set of shelves, bars, or hooks used for holding, storing, or displaying things.

"She hung her coat on the rack by the door."

"The wine rack in the kitchen holds a dozen bottles."

A frame for carrying luggage or equipment on a vehicle, such as the roof rack of a car.

"They strapped the surfboards to the roof rack."

Historically, a device with a ratchet used to torture people by stretching their limbs.

"Prisoners in medieval dungeons were sometimes threatened with the rack."

A bar with teeth that meshes with a gear (a pinion) to convert rotary motion into straight-line motion, or works with a pawl to allow movement in only one direction.

"The rack-and-pinion steering lets the driver turn the wheels smoothly."

verb

To cause severe strain, pain, or suffering.

"A racking cough kept him up all night."

"She was racked with guilt after the accident."

To arrange something on or in a rack, or (informally) to accumulate something, as in "rack up".

"The team racked up an impressive score in the first half."

How to Use Rack

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA frame for holding or storing things, or (as a verb) to strain or pile something up.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "rack" with "wrack" (as in "wrack and ruin") — in most modern usage "nerve-racking" and "rack your brain" are the standard spellings, though "wrack" appears as a variant.

Easily confused with

wrack

Common pairings

rack up points rack your brain a spice rack coat rack

Word Forms

racked past tense, racked past tense, racked past tense, racked past tense, racks plural, rack plural, racked plural, racks plural, racks plural, racks plural, racks singular, rack singular, racked singular, rackest singular, rackedst singular, racketh singular, racks singular, racks singular, racks singular

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She hung her coat on the _____ by the door.

Etymology

From Middle English rakke/rekke, related to Middle Dutch words for a framework, going back to a root meaning "to stretch out".

Rhymes for rack

ACK jack hack back tack wack pack sack lack Mack Zack aback

See all rhymes for rack →