rack
[noun]
Synonyms:
- frame, framework, stand, structure
[verb]
Synonyms:
- torture, afflict, agonize, crucify, harrow, oppress, pain, torment

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Related Words: distress, pain, oppress, persecute

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. rack¹ /ræk/ noun [countable]
[Sense 1-3,5-7: Date: 1300-1400; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: rec 'frame']
[Sense 4: Language: Old English; Origin: wræc 'unhappiness, punishment']

1. a frame or shelf that has bars or hooks on which you can put things:
a wine rack
a magazine rack ⇒ luggage rack, roof-rack

2. the rack a piece of equipment that was used in the past to make people suffer severe pain by stretching their bodies:
Thousands of people were tortured on the rack.

3. on the rack British English informal in a very difficult situation:
The company is now well and truly on the rack.

4. go to rack and ruin if a building goes to rack and ruin, it gradually gets into a very bad condition because no one has looked after it:
The house had been left to go to rack and ruin.

5. American English a three-sided frame used for arranging the balls at the start of a game of snooker or pool

6. a rack of lamb/pork a fairly large piece of meat from the side of an animal, that contains several rib bones

7. off the rack American English if you can buy something off the rack, you can buy it in a shop rather than having it specially made Synonym : off the peg British English:
A lot of designer clothes are now available off the rack.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. rack² verb

1. [transitive usually passive] to make someone suffer great mental or physical pain:
Great sobs racked her body.
be racked by/with something
Her face was racked with pain.
Liza was racked by guilt.

2. rack your brains to try very hard to remember or think of something:
I racked my brains, trying to remember his name.
rack something ↔ up phrasal verb informal
to get a number or amount of something, especially a number of points in a competition:
He racked up 41 points.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

rack
noun
ADJ. display, storage | cooling, drying | letter, luggage, magazine, plate, spice, toast, vegetable, wine, etc. | roof We fixed the canoe onto the car's roof rack.
VERB + RACK hang sth on, put sth on/onto/in/into, stack sth in/on, store sth in/on The wine is stored in special racks.
RACK + VERB contain sth, hold sth The racks along the wall held most of the costumes.
PREP. in a/the ~ He replaced the CD in the rack.
on a/the ~ Spread the flowers out to dry on a rack.
~ for a rack for storing apples
~ of racks of magazines

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲