rack (n.)

  1. framework for holding objects

  2. rib section of a forequarter of veal or pork or especially lamb or mutton

  3. the destruction or collapse of something; wrack and ruin

    [ Syn: wrack ]

  4. an instrument of torture that stretches or disjoints or mutilates victims

    [ Syn: wheel ]

  5. a support for displaying various articles; the newspapers were arranged on a rack

    [ Syn: stand ]

  6. a form of torture in which pain is inflicted by stretching the body

  7. a rapid gait of a horse in which each foot strikes the ground separately

    [ Syn: single-foot ]

    rack (v.)

  1. go at a rack; the horses single-footed

    [ Syn: single-foot ]

  2. seize together, as of parallel ropes of a tackle in order to prevent running through the block

  3. torture on the rack

  4. stretch to the limits; rack one's brains'

  5. put on a rack and pinion; rack a camera'

  6. obtain by coercion or intimidation; They extorted money from the executive by threatening to reveal his past to the company boss; They squeezed money from the owner of the business by threatening him

    [ Syn: extort , squeeze , gouge , wring ]

  7. run before a gale

    [ Syn: scud ]

  8. fly in high wind

  9. draw off from the lees; rack wine'

  10. torment emotionally or mentally

    [ Syn: torment , torture , excruciate ]

  11. work on a rack; rack leather'

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.