rule
♦♦♦ rule /r'uːl/ (rules ruling ruled)
1 [N-COUNT] oft N of n, N num
Rules are instructions that tell you what you are allowed to do and what you are not allowed to do.
...a thirty-two-page pamphlet explaining the rules of basketball...
Strictly speaking, this was against the rules.
2 [N-COUNT] oft N for/of n
A rule is a statement telling people what they should do in order to achieve success or a benefit of some kind.
An important rule is to drink plenty of water during any flight...
3 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
The rules of something such as a language or a science are statements that describe the way that things usually happen in a particular situation.
...according to the rules of quantum theory.
4 [N-SING] the N
If something is the rule, it is the normal state of affairs.
However, for many Americans today, weekend work has unfortunately become the rule rather than the exception.
5 [VERB] V n, V, V over n
The person or group that rules a country controls its affairs.
For four centuries, he says, foreigners have ruled Angola...
He ruled for eight months.
...the long line of feudal lords who had ruled over this land.
[N-UNCOUNT] usu supp N
Rule is also a noun.
...demands for an end to one-party rule.
6 [VERB] V n
If something rules your life, it influences or restricts your actions in a way that is not good for you.
Scientists have always been aware of how fear can rule our lives and make us ill.
7 [VERB] V that, V on n, V n adj/n, V against n, also V in favour of n
When someone in authority rules that something is true or should happen, they state that they have officially decided that it is true or should happen. (FORMAL)
The court ruled that laws passed by the assembly remained valid...
The Israeli court has not yet ruled on the case...
A provincial magistrates' court last week ruled it unconstitutional...
The committee ruled against all-night opening mainly on safety grounds.
= pronounce
8 [VERB] V-ed, also V n
If you rule a straight line, you draw it using something that has a straight edge.
...a ruled grid of horizontal and vertical lines.
9
see also golden rule, ground rule, slide rule, slide rule
10 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
If you say that something happens as a rule, you mean that it usually happens.
As a rule, however, such attacks have been aimed at causing damage rather than taking life.
= generally, usually
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone in authority bends the rules or stretches the rules, they do something even though it is against the rules.
There is a particular urgency in this case, and it would help if you could bend the rules.
12 [PHRASE] rule inflects
A rule of thumb is a rule or principle that you follow which is not based on exact calculations, but rather on experience.
A good rule of thumb is that a broker must generate sales of ten times his salary if his employer is to make a profit...
13 [PHRASE] V inflects
If workers work to rule, they protest by working according to the rules of their job without doing any extra work or taking any new decisions. (BRIT)
Nurses are continuing to work to rule.di|rect rule
[N-UNCOUNT]
Direct rule is a system in which a central government rules an area which has had its own parliament or law-making organization in the past.gold|en rule (golden rules)
[N-COUNT]
A golden rule is a principle you should remember because it will help you to be successful.
Hanson's golden rule is to add value to whatever business he buys.ground rule (ground rules)
[N-COUNT] usu pl, oft N for/of n
The ground rules for something are the basic principles on which future action will be based.
The panel says the ground rules for the current talks should be maintained.home rule
[N-UNCOUNT]
If a country or region has home rule, it has its own independent government and laws.rule book (rule books)
1 [N-COUNT]
A rule book is a book containing the official rules for a particular game, job, or organization.
...one of the most serious offences mentioned in the Party rule book.
2 [N-COUNT] the N
If you say that someone is doing something by the rule book, you mean that they are doing it in the normal, accepted way.
This was not the time to take risks; he knew he should play it by the rule book.rule in
[PHRASAL VERB] usu with brd neg, V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you say that you are not ruling in a particular course of action, you mean that you have not definitely decided to take that action.
We have made no decisions on restructuring yet. We are ruling nothing out and we are ruling nothing in...
We must, as I said, take care not to rule in or rule out any one solution.rule of law
[N-SING] usu the N
The rule of law refers to a situation in which the people in a society obey its laws and enable it to function properly. (FORMAL)
I am confident that we can restore peace, stability and respect for the rule of law.rule out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you rule out a course of action, an idea, or a solution, you decide that it is impossible or unsuitable.
The Prime Minister is believed to have ruled out cuts in child benefit or pensions...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If something rules out a situation, it prevents it from happening or from being possible.
A serious car accident in 1986 ruled out a permanent future for him in farming.slide rule (slide rules)
[N-COUNT]
A slide rule is an instrument that you use for calculating numbers. It looks like a ruler and has a middle part that slides backwards and forwards.
1 [N-COUNT] oft N of n, N num
Rules are instructions that tell you what you are allowed to do and what you are not allowed to do.
...a thirty-two-page pamphlet explaining the rules of basketball...
Strictly speaking, this was against the rules.
2 [N-COUNT] oft N for/of n
A rule is a statement telling people what they should do in order to achieve success or a benefit of some kind.
An important rule is to drink plenty of water during any flight...
3 [N-COUNT] oft N of n
The rules of something such as a language or a science are statements that describe the way that things usually happen in a particular situation.
...according to the rules of quantum theory.
4 [N-SING] the N
If something is the rule, it is the normal state of affairs.
However, for many Americans today, weekend work has unfortunately become the rule rather than the exception.
5 [VERB] V n, V, V over n
The person or group that rules a country controls its affairs.
For four centuries, he says, foreigners have ruled Angola...
He ruled for eight months.
...the long line of feudal lords who had ruled over this land.
[N-UNCOUNT] usu supp N
Rule is also a noun.
...demands for an end to one-party rule.
6 [VERB] V n
If something rules your life, it influences or restricts your actions in a way that is not good for you.
Scientists have always been aware of how fear can rule our lives and make us ill.
7 [VERB] V that, V on n, V n adj/n, V against n, also V in favour of n
When someone in authority rules that something is true or should happen, they state that they have officially decided that it is true or should happen. (FORMAL)
The court ruled that laws passed by the assembly remained valid...
The Israeli court has not yet ruled on the case...
A provincial magistrates' court last week ruled it unconstitutional...
The committee ruled against all-night opening mainly on safety grounds.
= pronounce
8 [VERB] V-ed, also V n
If you rule a straight line, you draw it using something that has a straight edge.
...a ruled grid of horizontal and vertical lines.
9
see also golden rule, ground rule, slide rule, slide rule
10 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
If you say that something happens as a rule, you mean that it usually happens.
As a rule, however, such attacks have been aimed at causing damage rather than taking life.
= generally, usually
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
If someone in authority bends the rules or stretches the rules, they do something even though it is against the rules.
There is a particular urgency in this case, and it would help if you could bend the rules.
12 [PHRASE] rule inflects
A rule of thumb is a rule or principle that you follow which is not based on exact calculations, but rather on experience.
A good rule of thumb is that a broker must generate sales of ten times his salary if his employer is to make a profit...
13 [PHRASE] V inflects
If workers work to rule, they protest by working according to the rules of their job without doing any extra work or taking any new decisions. (BRIT)
Nurses are continuing to work to rule.di|rect rule
[N-UNCOUNT]
Direct rule is a system in which a central government rules an area which has had its own parliament or law-making organization in the past.gold|en rule (golden rules)
[N-COUNT]
A golden rule is a principle you should remember because it will help you to be successful.
Hanson's golden rule is to add value to whatever business he buys.ground rule (ground rules)
[N-COUNT] usu pl, oft N for/of n
The ground rules for something are the basic principles on which future action will be based.
The panel says the ground rules for the current talks should be maintained.home rule
[N-UNCOUNT]
If a country or region has home rule, it has its own independent government and laws.rule book (rule books)
1 [N-COUNT]
A rule book is a book containing the official rules for a particular game, job, or organization.
...one of the most serious offences mentioned in the Party rule book.
2 [N-COUNT] the N
If you say that someone is doing something by the rule book, you mean that they are doing it in the normal, accepted way.
This was not the time to take risks; he knew he should play it by the rule book.rule in
[PHRASAL VERB] usu with brd neg, V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you say that you are not ruling in a particular course of action, you mean that you have not definitely decided to take that action.
We have made no decisions on restructuring yet. We are ruling nothing out and we are ruling nothing in...
We must, as I said, take care not to rule in or rule out any one solution.rule of law
[N-SING] usu the N
The rule of law refers to a situation in which the people in a society obey its laws and enable it to function properly. (FORMAL)
I am confident that we can restore peace, stability and respect for the rule of law.rule out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you rule out a course of action, an idea, or a solution, you decide that it is impossible or unsuitable.
The Prime Minister is believed to have ruled out cuts in child benefit or pensions...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If something rules out a situation, it prevents it from happening or from being possible.
A serious car accident in 1986 ruled out a permanent future for him in farming.slide rule (slide rules)
[N-COUNT]
A slide rule is an instrument that you use for calculating numbers. It looks like a ruler and has a middle part that slides backwards and forwards.