Antonyms for rack
| Grammar : Noun, verb |
| Spell : rak |
| Phonetic Transcription : ræk |
Definition of rack
Origin :- "frame with bars," c.1300, possibly from Middle Dutch rec "framework," literally "something stretched out, related to recken (modern rekken) "stretch out," cognate with Old English reccan "to stretch out," from Proto-Germanic *rak- (cf. Old Saxon rekkian, Old Frisian reza, Old Norse rekja, Old High German recchen, German recken, Gothic uf-rakjan "to stretch out"), from PIE *rog-, from root *reg- "to move in a straight line" (see regal).
- Meaning "instrument of torture" first recorded early 15c., perhaps from German rackbank, originally an implement for stretching leather, etc. Mechanical meaning "toothed bar" is from 1797 (see pinion). Meaning "set of antlers" is first attested 1945, American English; hence slang sense of "a woman's breasts" (especially if large), by 1991. Meaning "framework for displaying clothes" is from 1948; hence off the rack (1951) of clothing, as opposed to tailored.
- noun frame, framework
- verb torture; strain
- He went across to the hotel, tied the gelding at the rack, and sat down on the veranda.
- Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
- In the bottom of the pan is a rack upon which the meat may rest.
- Extract from : « Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 3 » by Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
- They fought for bread, as horses when there is no hay in the rack.
- Extract from : « The Boy Life of Napoleon » by Eugenie Foa
- Were it not better that they should die on the field than by the rack?
- Extract from : « Leila, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
- He went into Mr. Galloway's room, and brought forth the three letters from the rack.
- Extract from : « The Channings » by Mrs. Henry Wood
- Bid me despair and die—but do not stretch me on the rack of jealousy!
- Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
- Meg took off her best hat and placed it carefully in the rack.
- Extract from : « Jan and Her Job » by L. Allen Harker
- These insinuations, Harriet, have put my anxiety to the rack.
- Extract from : « The Politician Out-Witted » by Samuel Low
- It was an abode of dirt and disorder, a mason's cellar going to rack and ruin.
- Extract from : « His Masterpiece » by Emile Zola
- All that humbug which has only sent poor folks to rack and ruin!
- Extract from : « Fruitfulness » by Emile Zola
Synonyms for rack
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019