- a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement, etc.: the rules of chess.
- the code of regulations observed by a religious order or congregation: the Franciscan rule.
- the customary or normal circumstance, occurrence, manner, practice, quality, etc.: the rule rather than the exception.
- control, government, or dominion: under the rule of a dictator.
- tenure or conduct of reign or office: during the rule of George III.
- a prescribed mathematical method for performing a calculation or solving a problem.
- ruler (def. 2).
- the constellation Norma.
- a thin, type-high strip of metal, for printing a solid or decorative line or lines.
- Law.
- a formal order or direction made by a court, as for governing the procedure of the court (general rule ) or for sending the case before a referee (special rule ).
- a legal principle.
- a court order in a particular case.
- rules, Penology. (formerly)
- a fixed area in the neighborhood of certain prisons within which certain prisoners were allowed to live.
- the freedom of such an area.
- behavior.
- to control or direct; exercise dominating power, authority, or influence over; govern: to rule the empire with severity.
- to decide or declare judicially or authoritatively; decree: The judge ruled that he should be exiled.
- to mark with lines, especially parallel straight lines, with the aid of aruler or the like: to rule paper.
- to mark out or form (a line) by this method: to rule lines on paper.
- to be superior or preeminent in (a specific field or group); dominate by superiority; hold sway over: For centuries, England ruled the seas.
- to exercise dominating power or influence; predominate.
- to exercise authority, dominion, or sovereignty.
- to make a formal decision or ruling, as on a point at law.
- to be prevalent or current: Higher prices ruled throughout France.
- rule out,
- generally; usually: He arrives at eleven o'clock, as a rule.
- roost (def. 7).
- an authoritative regulation or direction concerning method or procedure, as for a court of law, legislative body, game, or other human institution or activity
- the exercise of governmental authority or control
- the period of time in which a monarch or government has power
- a customary form or procedure; regular course of action
- the common order of things; normal condition
- a prescribed method or procedure for solving a mathematical problem, or one constituting part of a computer program, usually expressed in an appropriate formalism
- a formal expression of a grammatical regularity in a linguistic description of a language
- any of various devices with a straight edge for guiding or measuring; ruler
- a printed or drawn character in the form of a long thin line
- another name for dash 1 (def. 13) en rule; em rule
- a strip of brass or other metal used to print such a line
- a systematic body of prescriptions defining the way of life to be followed by members of a religious order
- an order by a court or judge
- normally or ordinarily
- to exercise governing or controlling authority over (a people, political unit, individual, etc)
- to decide authoritatively; decree
- to mark with straight parallel lines or make one straight line, as with a ruler
- to restrain or control
- to be customary or prevalent
- to be pre-eminent or superior
- (of a planet) to have a strong affinity with certain human attributes, activities, etc, associated with (one or sometimes two signs of the zodiac)
- to be pre-eminent; be in charge
