Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense racks, present participle racking, past tense, past participle rackedlanguage note: The spelling wrack is also used, mainly for meanings [sense 3] and , [sense 4], and mainly in old-fashioned or American English.
1. countable noun
A rack is a frame or shelf, usually with bars or hooks, that is used for holding things or for hanging things on.
My rucksack was too big for the luggage rack.
You have to fight to reach the racks of clothes but the bargains are amazing.
2. See also roof rack, toast rack
3. verb [usually passive]
If someone is rackedby something such as illness or anxiety, it causes them great suffering or pain.
His already infirm body was racked by high fever. [beV-ed + by/with]
The country is now racked by three violent separatist movements. [beV-ed by/with n]
...a teenager racked with guilt and anxiety. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: torture, distress, torment, harass More Synonyms of rack
4. See also racking
5.
See rack one's brain
6.
See on the rack
7.
See go to rack and ruin
8.
See off the rack
Phrasal verbs:
See rack up
More Synonyms of rack
rack in British English1
(ræk)
noun
1.
a framework for holding, carrying, or displaying a specific load or object
a plate rack
a hat rack
a hay rack
a luggage rack
2.
a toothed bar designed to engage a pinion to form a mechanism that will interconvert rotary and rectilinear motions
3.
a framework fixed to an aircraft for carrying bombs, rockets, etc
4. the rack
5.
a cause or state of mental or bodily stress, suffering, etc; anguish; torment (esp in the phrase on the rack)
6. vulgar, slang, mainly US
a woman's breasts
7. US and Canadian(in pool, snooker, etc)
a.
the triangular frame used to arrange the balls for the opening shot
b.
the balls so grouped
Brit equivalent: frame
verb(transitive)
8.
to torture on the rack
9. Also: wrack
to cause great stress or suffering to
guilt racked his conscience
10. Also: wrack
to strain or shake (something) violently, as by great physical force
the storm racked the town
11.
to place or arrange in or on a rack
to rack bottles of wine
12.
to move (parts of machinery or a mechanism) using a toothed rack
13.
to raise (rents) exorbitantly; rack-rent
14. rack one's brains
▶ USAGE See note at wrack1
Derived forms
racker (ˈracker)
noun
Word origin
C14 rekke, probably from Middle Dutch rec framework; related to Old High German recchen to stretch, Old Norse rekja to spread out
rack in British English2
(ræk)
noun
destruction; wreck (obsolete except in the phrase go to rack and ruin)
Word origin
C16: variant of wrack1
rack in British English3
(ræk)
noun
another word for single-foot, a gait of the horse
Word origin
C16: perhaps based on rock2
rack in British English4
(ræk)
noun
1.
a group of broken clouds moving in the wind
verb
2. (intransitive)
(of clouds) to be blown along by the wind
Word origin
Old English wrǣc what is driven; related to Gothic wraks persecutor, Swedish vrak wreckage
rack in British English5
(ræk)
verb(transitive)
1.
to clear (wine, beer, etc) as by siphoning it off from the dregs
2.
to fill a container with (beer, wine, etc)
Word origin
C15: from Old Provençal arraca, from raca dregs of grapes after pressing
rack in British English6
(ræk)
noun
the neck or rib section of mutton, pork, or veal
Word origin
Old English hrace; related to Old High German rahho, Danish harke, Swedish harkla to clear one's throat
rack in American English1
(ræk)
noun
1.
a framework, grating, case, stand, etc. for holding or displaying various things
clothes rack, dish rack, pipe rack, bomb rack
see also hatrack, hayrack
2.
a.
a triangular form for arranging billiard balls at the beginning of a game of pool
b.
the billiard balls as set up before the break
3.
a lift used for automotive vehicles
4.
a frame for holding cases of type
5.
a toothed bar into which a pinion, worm gear, etc. meshes for receiving or transmitting motion, as in automotive steering systems
6.
a pair of antlers
7.
an instrument of torture having a frame on which the victim's body is bound and stretched until the limbs are pulled out of place
8.
any great mental or physical torment, or its cause
9.
a wrenching or upheaval, as by a storm
verb transitive
10.
to arrange in or on a rack
11.
to torture on a rack
12.
to trouble, torment, or afflict
a body racked with pain
13.
a.
to oppress by unfair demands, esp. by exacting exorbitant rents
b.
to raise (rents) to an exorbitant degree
Idioms:
off the rack
on the rack
rack one's brains
rack up
Word origin
ME racke < LowG rack < IE *rek-, to project, bar > rock2
rack in American English2
(ræk)
noun, verb intransitive
single-foot
rack in American English3
(ræk)
noun
destruction; wreckage
now only in go to rack and ruin, to become ruined
Word origin
var. of wrack1
rack in American English4
(ræk)
noun
1.
a broken mass of clouds blown by the wind
verb intransitive
2.
to be blown by the wind
said of clouds
Word origin
ME rac, prob. < Scand, as in ON reka, to drive, Norw, Swed dial. rak, a wreck: for IE base see wreak
rack in American English5
(ræk)
verb transitive
to draw off (cider, wine, etc.) from the dregs
Word origin
LME rakken < Prov arracar < raca, husks and stems of grapes, thick dregs
rack in American English6
(ræk)
noun
1.
the neck or forepart of the spine, especially of mutton or pork
2.
the rib section of lamb, usually including eight or nine pairs of ribs, used for a roast or for rib chops
: in full rack of lamb
Word origin
< ? rack1
More idioms containing
rack
rack your brains
on the rack
rack and ruin
Word lists with
rack
Instruments of torture
In other languages
rack
British English: rack /ræk/ NOUN
A rack is a piece of equipment used for holding things or for hanging things on.
...a luggage rack.
American English: rack
Arabic: حَامِل
Brazilian Portuguese: prateleira
Chinese: 架子
Croatian: polica
Czech: věšák
Danish: stativ
Dutch: rek
European Spanish: estante
Finnish: teline
French: étagère
German: Ständer
Greek: ράφι
Italian: scaffale
Japanese: ･･･掛け 帽子や洋服
Korean: 선반
Norwegian: stativ
Polish: półka
European Portuguese: prateleira
Romanian: cuier
Russian: полка
Latin American Spanish: estante
Swedish: ställ
Thai: ชั้นวางของ
Turkish: askılık
Ukrainian: вішалка
Vietnamese: cái giá
British English: rack VERB
If someone is racked by something such as illness or anxiety, it causes them great suffering or pain.
His already infirm body was racked by high fever.
American English: rack
Brazilian Portuguese: atormentar
Chinese: 使痛苦
European Spanish: atormentar
French: tourmenter
German: plagen
Italian: tormentare
Japanese: 苦しめる
Korean: ~로 고통스러워하다
European Portuguese: atormentar
Latin American Spanish: atormentar
Chinese translation of 'rack'
rack
(ræk)
n(c)
(also luggage rack) 行李架 (xínglijià) (个(個), gè)
(for hanging clothes, dishes) 架 (jià) (个(個), gè)
vt
racked by or with[pain, anxiety, doubts]被/受折磨 (bèi/shòu zhémó)
magazine rack报(報)刊架 (bàokānjià)
to go to rack and ruin[building]荒废(廢) (huāngfèi) [business, country]衰败(敗) (shuāibài)
to rack one's brains绞(絞)尽(盡)脑(腦)汁 (jiǎojìn nǎozhī)
a framework for holding particular articles, such as coats or luggage
a luggage rack
Synonyms
frame
He supplied housebuilders with modern timber frames.
support
stand
The teapot came with a stand to catch the drips.
structure
holder
shelf
He took a book from the shelf.
framework
wooden shelves on a steel framework
trestle
2 (noun)
Definition
an instrument of torture that stretched the body of the victim
Synonyms
torture
Waiting for the result was torture.
suffering
It has caused terrible suffering to animals.
pain
Her eyes were filled with pain.
misery
All that money brought nothing but misery.
agony
We accepted there would be agony for the remaining children.
torment
We spent our days in torment, waiting for news.
anguish
A cry of anguish burst from her lips.
persecution
the persecution of minorities
pang
affliction
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
1 (verb)
Definition
to cause great suffering to
a teenager racked with guilt
Synonyms
torture
He would not torture her further by arguing.
distress
I did not want to frighten or distress her.
torment
At times, memories returned to torment her.
harass
afflict
There are four main problems that afflict these people.
oppress
The atmosphere in the room oppressed her.
harrow
crucify
He had been crucified by guilt ever since his child's death.
agonize
pain
It pains me to think of an animal being in distress.
excruciate
2 (verb)
Synonyms
strain
He strained his back during a practice session.
force
The police forced the door of the flat and arrested him.
pull
Dave pulled a back muscle and could hardly move.
stress
tear
Torn by guilt, they gave a mandate to protect civilians.
shake
stretch
Make sure you don't stretch the pastry as you ease it into the corners.
wrench
They wrenched open the passenger door and got into the car.
idioms
See on the rack
phrasal verb
See rack something up
See rack your brains
Usage note
The use of the spelling wrack rather than rack in sentences such as she was wracked by grief or the country was wracked by civil war is very common, but is thought by many people to be incorrect.
Seepain
Synonyms of 'rack'
rack
Explore 'rack' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of anguish
Definition
great mental pain
A cry of anguish burst from her lips.
Synonyms
suffering,
pain,
torture,
distress,
grief,
misery,
agony,
torment,
sorrow,
woe,
heartache,
heartbreak,
pang,
throe
in the sense of crucify
Definition
to treat cruelly
He had been crucified by guilt ever since his child's death.
Synonyms
torture,
rack,
torment,
harrow
in the sense of distress
Definition
to upset badly
I did not want to frighten or distress her.
Synonyms
upset,
worry,
trouble,
pain,
wound,
bother,
disturb,
dismay,
grieve,
torment,
harass,
afflict,
harrow,
agitate,
sadden,
perplex,
disconcert,
agonize,
fluster,
perturb,
faze,
throw (someone) off balance
in the sense of excruciate
Synonyms
torture,
rack,
torment,
afflict,
harrow,
agonize
in the sense of force
Definition
to break down or open (a lock, door, etc.)
The police forced the door of the flat and arrested him.
Synonyms
break open,
blast,
wrench,
prise,
open,
wrest,
use violence on
in the sense of framework
Definition
a structure supporting something
wooden shelves on a steel framework
Synonyms
structure,
body,
frame,
foundation,
shell,
fabric,
skeleton
in the sense of misery
Definition
intense unhappiness or suffering
All that money brought nothing but misery.
Synonyms
unhappiness,
distress,
despair,
grief,
suffering,
depression,
torture,
agony,
gloom,
sadness,
discomfort,
torment,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
anguish,
melancholy,
desolation,
wretchedness
in the sense of oppress
Definition
to make anxious or uncomfortable
The atmosphere in the room oppressed her.
Synonyms
depress,
burden,
discourage,
torment,
daunt,
harass,
afflict,
sadden,
vex,
weigh down,
dishearten,
cast someone down,
dispirit,
take the heart out of,
deject,
lie or weigh heavy upon,
make someone despondent
in the sense of pain
Definition
emotional suffering
Her eyes were filled with pain.
Synonyms
sorrow,
suffering,
torture,
distress,
despair,
grief,
misery,
agony,
sadness,
torment,
hardship,
bitterness,
woe,
anguish,
heartache,
affliction,
tribulation,
desolation,
wretchedness
in the sense of pain
Definition
to cause (a person) physical or mental suffering
It pains me to think of an animal being in distress.
Synonyms
distress,
worry,
hurt,
wound,
torture,
grieve,
torment,
afflict,
sadden,
disquiet,
vex,
agonize,
cut to the quick,
aggrieve
Additional synonyms
in the sense of persecution
the persecution of minorities
Synonyms
victimization,
abuse,
torture,
torment,
oppression,
tyranny,
discrimination against,
mistreatment,
ill-treatment,
maltreatment,
tyrannization
in the sense of pull
Definition
to strain or stretch
Dave pulled a back muscle and could hardly move.
Synonyms
strain,
tear,
stretch,
rend (literary),
rip,
wrench,
dislocate,
sprain
in the sense of shelf
Definition
a board fixed horizontally against a wall or in a cupboard, for holding things
He took a book from the shelf.
Synonyms
shelving,
rack,
bookshelf,
mantelpiece
in the sense of stand
Definition
a base, support, or piece of furniture in or on which articles may be held or stored
The teapot came with a stand to catch the drips.
Synonyms
support,
base,
platform,
place,
stage,
frame,
rack,
bracket,
tripod,
dais,
trivet
in the sense of stretch
Definition
to draw (something) tight
Make sure you don't stretch the pastry as you ease it into the corners.
Synonyms
pull,
distend,
pull out of shape,
strain,
swell,
tighten,
rack,
inflate,
lengthen,
draw out,
elongate
in the sense of suffering
It has caused terrible suffering to animals.
Synonyms
pain,
torture,
distress,
agony,
misery,
ordeal,
discomfort,
torment,
hardship,
anguish,
affliction,
martyrdom
in the sense of tear
Torn by guilt, they gave a mandate to protect civilians.
Synonyms
torment,
torture,
rack,
wring
in the sense of torment
Definition
physical or mental pain
We spent our days in torment, waiting for news.
Synonyms
suffering,
distress,
misery,
pain,
hell (informal),
torture,
agony,
anguish
in the sense of torment
Definition
to cause (someone) great pain or suffering
At times, memories returned to torment her.
Synonyms
torture,
pain,
distress,
afflict,
rack,
harrow,
crucify,
agonize,
excruciate
in the sense of wrench
Definition
to twist or pull (something) violently, for example to remove it from something to which it is attached
They wrenched open the passenger door and got into the car.