rule
n 1: a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior;
"it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast";
"short haircuts were the regulation" [syn: {regulation}]
2: 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"
[syn: {convention}, {normal}, {pattern}, {formula}]
3: prescribed guide for conduct or action [syn: {prescript}]
4: a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
[syn: {linguistic rule}]
5: 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"
[syn: {principle}]
6: the duration of a monarch's or government's power; "during
the rule of Elizabeth"
7: dominance or power through legal authority; "France held
undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa"; "the rule
of Caesar" [syn: {dominion}]
8: directions that define the way a game or sport is to be
conducted; "he knew the rules of chess"
9: a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of
members of a religious order; "the rule of St. Dominic"
10: a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the
function of a mechanical system: "the principle of the
conservation of mass"; "the principle of jet propulsion";
"the right-hand rule for inductive fields" [syn: {principle}]
11: (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of
problems; "he determined the upper bound with Descartes'
rule of signs"; "he gave us a general formula for
attacking polynomials" [syn: {formula}]
12: a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge
that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring
lengths [syn: {ruler}]
v 1: exercise authority over; as of nations; "Who is governing
the country now?" [syn: {govern}]
2: decide with authority [syn: {decree}]
3: be larger in number, quantity, or importance; "Money reigns
supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this
neighborhood" [syn: {predominate}, {dominate}, {reign}, {prevail}]
4: decide on and make a declaration about; "find someone
guilty" [syn: {find}]
5: have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
6: mark or draw with a ruler; of margins
7: keep in check; "rule one's temper" [syn: {harness}, {rein}]