rate: Meaning and Definition of

rate

Pronunciation: (rāt), [key]
— n., v., rat•ed, rat•ing.
—n.
  1. the amount of a charge or payment with reference to some basis of calculation: a high rate of interest on loans.
  2. 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.
  3. a fixed charge per unit of quantity: a rate of 10 cents a pound.
  4. price; cost: to cut rates on all home furnishings.
  5. degree of speed, progress, etc.: to work at a rapid rate.
  6. degree or comparative extent of action or procedure: the rate of increase in work output.
  7. relative condition or quality; grade, class, or sort.
  8. assigned position in any of a series of graded classes; rating.
  9. the premium charge per unit of insurance.
  10. a charge by a common carrier for transportation, sometimes including certain services involved in rendering such transportation.
  11. a wage paid on a specified time basis: a salary figured on an hourly rate.
  12. a charge or price established in accordance with a scale or standard: hotel rates based on length of stay.
  13. the relative adherence of a timepiece to perfect timekeeping, measured in terms of the amount of time gained or lost within a certain period.
  14. Usually,
    1. a tax on property for some local purpose.
    2. any tax assessed and paid to a local government, as any city tax or district tax.
  15. It was a mediocre film, but at any rate there was one outstanding individual performance.
    1. in any event; in any case.
    2. at least:It was a mediocre film, but at any rate there was one outstanding individual performance.
—v.t.
  1. to estimate the value or worth of; appraise: to rate a student's class performance.
  2. to esteem, consider, or account: He was rated one of the best writers around.
  3. to fix at a certain rate, as of charge or payment.
  4. to value for purposes of taxation or the like.
  5. to make subject to the payment of a certain rate or tax.
  6. to place in a certain rank, class, etc., as a ship or a sailor; give a specific rating to.
  7. to be considered or treated as worthy of; merit: an event that doesn't even rate a mention in most histories of the period.
  8. to arrange for the conveyance of (goods) at a certain rate.
—v.i.
  1. to have value, standing, etc.: a performance that didn't rate very high in the competition.
  2. to have position in a certain class.
  3. to rank very high in estimation: The new teacher really rates with our class.

rate

Pronunciation: (rāt), [key]
— rat•ed, rat•ing.
  1. to chide vehemently; scold.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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