rack
/ræk/ (bre, ipa) · /ræk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrak/ (ame, mw)
rack — noun
- racksingular
- racksplural
1. a structure made of bars, rods, or shelves, designed for holding, storing, or di
a structure made of bars, rods, or shelves, designed for holding, storing, or displaying items such as bottles, tools, clothes, or kitchen utensils
Eshe pulled a bottle of red wine from the rack in the cellar.
wine rack — compound noun for bottle storage
Christopher hung his wet towel on the wooden rack by the back door.
hanging rack for clothes or towels
The spice rack above the stove held jars of cumin, paprika, and turmeric.
Xiu loaded the dishwasher rack carefully so nothing would break.
A magazine rack stood next to the sofa, stuffed with old issues.
文法句型
a rack of [plural noun]
[noun] rack
用法筆記
Commonly used as the second part of a compound noun naming what the rack holds: wine rack, spice rack, luggage rack, roof rack.
常見錯誤
2. a triangular frame, usually made of wood or plastic, that holds billiard balls i
a triangular frame, usually made of wood or plastic, that holds billiard balls in a tight formation before the opening shot in pool, billiards, or snooker
Caio set the rack on the green felt and carefully placed the balls inside.
set the rack — collocation for positioning the frame
After Tara broke the triangle, the balls scattered across the table.
The bar had a plastic rack mounted on the wall above the pool table.
Élise lifted the rack carefully so the tight formation of balls would not shift.
- triangle
informal term used by players for the rack
3. a historical instrument of torture consisting of a wooden frame with ropes attac
a historical instrument of torture consisting of a wooden frame with ropes attached to the victim's wrists and ankles, used to pull the body in opposite directions, causing extreme pain or forcing a confession
The museum displayed a replica of a medieval rack used in the Tower of London.
Prisoners were stretched on the rack until they gave up the names of their allies.
on the rack — fixed prepositional phrase for this device
Ziad read about the rack in his history textbook and was horrified by the drawings.
The guards tightened the ropes of the rack until the victim screamed in agony.
文法句型
on the rack
用法筆記
Commonly used in the fixed phrase 'on the rack' to describe the position of the victim. Figuratively, 'on the rack' also describes a state of severe mental strain.
4. a cut of meat taken from the neck, front ribs, or upper forequarters of a sheep,
a cut of meat taken from the neck, front ribs, or upper forequarters of a sheep, lamb, pig, or veal, typically sold as a roast or individual chops
Leo ordered a rack of lamb with rosemary and roasted potatoes for his birthday dinner.
rack of lamb — the most common form of this cut
Trang seasoned the pork rack with garlic and thyme before putting it in the oven.
The butcher recommended a rack of veal for the Sunday roast.
A whole rack of lamb has about eight ribs and serves two or three people.
- rib roast
a larger roasting cut, usually of beef, not lamb or pork
文法句型
rack of [animal]
用法筆記
Most commonly used with 'lamb' (rack of lamb). A 'rack' is different from a 'loin' — the rack comes from the rib area closer to the neck, while the loin is further back.
常見錯誤
5. a long metal bar with teeth cut into one side, designed to connect with a gear w
a long metal bar with teeth cut into one side, designed to connect with a gear wheel and change rotary motion into straight-line movement back and forth, or the reverse
The rack and pinion turned the steering wheel into smooth left or right turns.
rack and pinion — the standard pairing in steering systems
Eitan watched the machine's rack slide back and forth as the motor rotated the gear.
Most modern cars use a rack and pinion instead of a worm-and-sector steering mechanism.
The engineer inspected the rack for broken teeth that could cause the mechanism to jam.
- gear rack
technical synonym emphasising its function as part of a gear system
- toothed bar
descriptive term used in non-technical contexts
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the compound 'rack and pinion' (or 'rack-and-pinion'). The pinion is the small gear wheel that engages with the rack's teeth.
6. a condition of complete destruction, serious decay, or total collapse, almost al
a condition of complete destruction, serious decay, or total collapse, almost always used in the fixed expression 'rack and ruin'
The old farmhouse went to rack and ruin after the family sold it.
go to rack and ruin — fixed idiom for total decay
Without proper maintenance, the bridge would fall into rack and ruin within a decade.
Gabriela's grandmother's garden went to rack and ruin after years of neglect.
The once-grand hotel went to rack and ruin, with broken windows and a collapsing roof.
- ruin
single-word alternative for total destruction
- decay
emphasises gradual deterioration rather than sudden collapse
- dilapidation
formal term for buildings falling apart from neglect
文法句型
go to rack and ruin
用法筆記
This sense is used in only one fixed expression: 'rack and ruin', almost always in the phrase 'go to rack and ruin' (or 'fall into rack and ruin'). Do not use 'rack' alone with this meaning.
常見錯誤
rack — verb
- rackpresent simple I / you / we / they
- racks3rd person singular
- racking-ing form
- rackedpast simple
1. to cause someone to suffer intense physical or emotional pain; to trouble or dis
to cause someone to suffer intense physical or emotional pain; to trouble or distress deeply — for example, being racked by a severe headache, or racked with guilt over a lie
Kemi was racked by terrible back pain after lifting the heavy boxes the wrong way.
be racked by [physical pain] — passive construction
Eshe racked her brain trying to remember where she had left her house keys.
rack one's brain(s) — common idiom for intense mental effort
The young man was racked with guilt after shouting at his mother.
Violent coughing racked the patient's body throughout the night.
Christopher was racked by doubt as the deadline for his decision approached.
- relieve
to remove pain or distress
文法句型
be racked by [pain/guilt/doubt]
be racked with [pain/guilt/remorse]
rack one's brain(s)
用法筆記
Most commonly used in the passive voice ('racked by', 'racked with'). The active form is rarer and usually takes an impersonal subject, as in 'coughing racked his body'. The idiom 'rack one's brain(s)' is always active and means to think very hard.
常見錯誤
2. to pull, stretch, or tense something violently, reaching its physical limit of m
to pull, stretch, or tense something violently, reaching its physical limit of movement or capacity
The old rope was racked by the weight of the swinging cargo until it snapped.
be racked by [weight/force] — passive describing physical stress
Gabriela racked every muscle in her arms to pull the boat onto the shore.
The storm racked the ship's masts, bending them nearly to breaking point.
Xiu's entire body was racked by violent shivers from a high fever.
- relax
to release tension from something
文法句型
be racked by [force/pressure]
rack [body part]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 focuses on pain experienced (emotional or physical), while sense 2 focuses on the physical act of stretching or straining something to its limit — the emphasis is on the mechanical force, not the resulting suffering.
3. to pressure or exploit someone unfairly by demanding excessive amounts of money,
to pressure or exploit someone unfairly by demanding excessive amounts of money, especially through unreasonably high rents, fees, or other charges
The landlord racked the tenants by raising the rent by fifty percent with no warning.
rack + indirect object — active verb of exploitation
The company was accused of racking small farmers with hidden service charges.
The government passed a law to stop landlords from racking their tenants unfairly.
Ziad discovered that the agency had been racking him for fees that were never explained.
文法句型
rack up [debt/charges]
rack [someone] for [money]
用法筆記
Historically tied to the practice of charging excessive rents ('rent racking'). This sense is now rare in everyday speech but still appears in legal and political discussions about housing and tenant rights.