1. (noun)rule, regulation a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior "it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast"; "short haircuts were the regulation"
2. (noun)convention, normal, pattern, rule, formula 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. (noun)rule, prescript prescribed guide for conduct or action
4. (noun)rule, linguistic rule (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
5. (noun)principle, rule 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. (noun)rule the duration of a monarch's or government's power "during the rule of Elizabeth"
7. (noun)dominion, rule dominance or power through legal authority "France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa"; "the rule of Caesar"
8. (noun)rule directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted "he knew the rules of chess"
9. (noun)rule any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religiousorder "the rule of St. Dominic"
10. (noun)principle, rule a rule or law concerning a naturalphenomenon or the function of a complexsystem "the principle of the conservation of mass"; "the principle of jet propulsion"; "the right-hand rule for inductive fields"
11. (noun)rule, formula (mathematics) a standardprocedure 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"
13. (verb)govern, rule exerciseauthority over; as of nations "Who is governing the country now?"
14. (verb)rule, decree decide with authority "The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed"
15. (verb)predominate, dominate, rule, reign, prevail be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"
16. (verb)rule, find decide on and make a declaration about "find someone guilty"
Definition of 'rule'
