the amount of a charge or payment with reference to some basis of calculation: a high rate of interest on loans.
a certain quantity or amount of one thing considered in relation to a unit of another thing and used as a standard or measure: at the rate of 60 miles an hour.
a fixed charge per unit of quantity: a rate of 10 cents a pound.
price; cost: to cut rates on all home furnishings.
degree of speed, progress, etc.: to work at a rapid rate.
degree or comparative extent of action or procedure: the rate of increase in work output.
relative condition or quality; grade, class, or sort.
assigned position in any of a series of graded classes; rating.
Insurance. the premium charge per unit of insurance.
a charge by a common carrier for transportation, sometimes including certain services involved in rendering such transportation.
a wage paid on a specified time basis: a salary figured on an hourly rate.
a charge or price established in accordance with a scale or standard: hotel rates based on length of stay.
Horology. the relative adherence of a timepiece to perfect timekeeping, measured in terms of the amount of time gained or lost within a certain period.
Usually rates.British.
a tax on property for some local purpose.
any tax assessed and paid to a local government, as any city tax or district tax.
verb (used with object),rat·ed,rat·ing.
to estimate the value or worth of; appraise: to rate a student's class performance.
to esteem, consider, or account: He was rated one of the best writers around.
to fix at a certain rate, as of charge or payment.
to value for purposes of taxation or the like.
to make subject to the payment of a certain rate or tax.
to place in a certain rank, class, etc., as a ship or a sailor; give a specific rating to.
to be considered or treated as worthy of; merit: an event that doesn't even rate a mention in most histories of the period.
to arrange for the conveyance of (goods) at a certain rate.
verb (used without object),rat·ed,rat·ing.
to have value, standing, etc.: a performance that didn't rate very high in the competition.
to have position in a certain class.
to rank very high in estimation: The new teacher really rates with our class.
Idioms for rate
at any rate,
in any event; in any case.
at least: It was a mediocre film, but at any rate there was one outstanding individual performance.
Origin of rate
1
1375–1425; (noun) late Middle English rate monetary value, estimated amount, proportional part <Medieval Latin rata<Latin (prō) ratā (parte) (according to) an estimated (part), ratā ablative singular of rata, feminine of ratus, past participle of rērī to judge; (v.) late Middle English raten to estimate the value (of), derivative of the noun
SYNONYMS FOR rate
5 pace.
15 rank, classify, measure.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rate ON THESAURUS.COM
Definition for rate (2 of 2)
rate2
[ reyt ]
/ reɪt /
verb (used with or without object),rat·ed,rat·ing.
to chide vehemently; scold.
Origin of rate
2
1350–1400; Middle English (a)raten, perhaps <Scandinavian; compare Swedish, Norwegian rata to reject
The Kentucky Senate race is rated a toss-up, but most insiders think McConnell has it.
And Now Mitch McConnell Is the ‘Pro-Woman’ Candidate!|Eleanor Clift|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Others in obvious discomfort have rated their pain as much lower on the scale.
DEA's Painkiller Crackdown Too Little, Too Late?|Russell Saunders|August 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, last fall, Factcheck.org rated such claims as outright falsehoods.
The Five Biggest Lies About Obamacare|Michael Tomasky|August 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Time Magazine rated it the no.1 episode of television in 2013.
‘Star Wars’ Director Rian Johnson May Bring Balance to the Force|Rich Goldstein|June 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Get out the whips and paddles, the ‘Fifty Shades’ flick will be rated NC-17.
Every Juicy Thing We Know About the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Movie|Amy Zimmerman|November 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The standing of every family in those parts was rated by the number of dogs they possessed.
Watch Yourself Go By|Al. G. Field
Among seamen she was rated an unlucky ship, and Lawrence was confidently expected to break the spell.
The Fight for a Free Sea: A Chronicle of the War of 1812|Ralph D. Paine
Ah, but he rated himself pitilessly as he bent his flushed face over his plate of stew.
Brothers of Peril|Theodore Goodridge Roberts
The towns named their own magistrates of every kind, rated themselves, and levied their own taxes.
American Institutions and Their Influence|Alexis de Tocqueville et al.
He threatened me grievously and reviled me, and rated me as though I had been a dog.
History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century, Volume V|J. H. Merle d'Aubigné
British Dictionary definitions for rate (1 of 2)
rate1
/ (reɪt) /
noun
a quantity or amount considered in relation to or measured against another quantity or amounta rate of 70 miles an hour
a price or charge with reference to a standard or scalerate of interest; rate of discount
(as modifier)a rate card
a charge made per unit for a commodity, service, etc
See rates
the relative speed of progress or change of something variable; pacehe works at a great rate; the rate of production has doubled
relative quality; class or grade
(in combination)first-rate ideas
statisticsa measure of the frequency of occurrence of a given event, such as births and deaths, usually expressed as the number of times the event occurs for every thousand of the total population considered
a wage calculated against a unit of time
the amount of gain or loss of a timepiece
at any ratein any case; at all events; anyway
verb(mainly tr)
(also intr)to assign or receive a position on a scale of relative values; rankhe is rated fifth in the world
to estimate the value of; evaluatewe rate your services highly
to be worthy of; deservethis hotel does not rate four stars
to consider; regardI rate him among my friends
Britishto assess the value of (property) for the purpose of local taxation
slangto think highly ofthe clients do not rate the new system
Word Origin for rate
C15: from Old French, from Medieval Latin rata, from Latin prō ratā parte according to a fixed proportion, from ratus fixed, from rērī to think, decide
British Dictionary definitions for rate (2 of 2)
rate2
/ (reɪt) /
verb
(tr)to scold or criticize severely; rebuke harshly