rack

1 of 9

noun (1)

1
: a framework, stand, or grating on or in which articles are placed
2
: an instrument of torture on which a body is stretched
3
a(1)
: a cause of anguish or pain
(2)
: acute suffering
b
: the action of straining or wrenching
4
a
: a bar with teeth on one face for gearing with a pinion or worm gear to transform rotary motion to linear motion or vice versa (as in an automobile steering mechanism)
b
: a notched bar used as a ratchet to engage with a pawl, click, or detent
5
: a pair of antlers
6
: bed, sack
7
: a triangular frame used to set up the balls in a pool game
also : the balls as set up
8
: a framework for holding fodder for livestock
rackful noun

rack

2 of 9

verb (1)

racked; racking; racks

transitive verb

1
: to cause to suffer torture, pain, anguish, or ruin
2
: to place (balls, such as pool balls) in a rack
3
a
: to stretch or strain violently
b
: to raise (rents) oppressively
c
: to harass or oppress with high rents or extortions
4
: to torture on the rack
5
: to work or treat (material) on a rack
6
: to work by a rack and pinion or worm so as to extend or contract
rack a camera
7
: to seize (ropes, such as parallel ropes of a tackle) together

intransitive verb

: to become forced out of shape or out of plumb
racker noun
rackingly adverb

rack

3 of 9

noun (2)

1
: the rib section of a lamb's forequarters used for chops or as a roast see lamb illustration
2
: the neck and spine of a forequarter of veal, pork, or especially mutton

rack

4 of 9

noun (3)

: destruction
rack and ruin

rack

5 of 9

noun (4)

: either of two gaits of a horse:
b
: a fast showy 4-beat gait similar to the pace but in which the feet of the same side do not touch down at the same time

rack

6 of 9

verb (2)

racked; racking; racks

intransitive verb

of a horse
: to go at a rack

rack

7 of 9

noun (5)

: a wind-driven mass of high often broken clouds

rack

8 of 9

verb (3)

racked; racking; racks

intransitive verb

: to fly or scud in high wind

rack

9 of 9

verb (4)

racked; racking; racks

transitive verb

: to draw off (wine) from the lees
Phrases
on the rack
: under great emotional stress

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you rack or wrack your brain?

Wrack and rack are etymologically distinct, meaning they come from different words. Many usage guides will advise that you should use wrack for meanings such as "to utterly ruin," and rack for "to cause to suffer torture, pain, anguish, or ruin." If you follow this advice, the proper choice for what you do to your brain when thinking very hard is rack. However, wrack has long been used as a variant of rack, and numerous fine writers have avowedly wracked their brains or found something nerve-wracking.

Is it racked or wracked with pain?

Some guides feel that "racked with pain" is the preferable choice, although wrack is in many cases an acceptable variant. The verbs are often conflated despite their very different origins (the former from Middle Dutch rekken, meaning "to stretch," and the latter from the Middle English word for shipwreck, wrak).

"Do you rack up or wrack up debts?"

While there are a number of settings in which wrack is considered an acceptable variant of rack, the accumulation of debts is not one of them. In this context rack up typically means "to achieve, score; to accumulate."

Choose the Right Synonym for rack

afflict, try, torment, torture, rack mean to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear.

afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.

ills that afflict the elderly

try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

children often try their parents' patience

torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.

a horse tormented by flies

torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.

tortured by a sense of guilt

rack stresses straining or wrenching.

a body racked by pain

Examples of rack in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Roast on the bottom rack until the vegetables are tender and the tofu is crisp underneath, 30 to 35 minutes. Emily Weinstein, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 Setting the sheet pan on the bottom rack, which is nearest to the heat source, turns it into a big skillet and helps the bottoms of the vegetables sizzle and sear. Ali Slagle, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 And … homemade Pop-Tarts laid out on a cooling rack. Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2024 Remove from oven, and cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire rack, and cool completely, about 1 hour. Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 It was architected to provide high-density racks to customers running AI workloads. Judith Magyar, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 The side of the back merchandiser, the soda syrup rack and the dry storage shelves had grease, dust or debris on them, according to the inspection report. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 17 Feb. 2024 The fifth rack will be an all money-ball rack and each competitor gets to choose where this rack will be among the locations. Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2024 The menu includes mussels, escargots, duck confit and roasted rack of lamb and the backdrop includes much by which to be entertained. Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
But running these kinds of reports requires special kinds of data center facilities with very high-density racks which have the capability to substantially increase computing power per square foot or rack. Judith Magyar, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Maximize storage space while keeping your home tidy with this Simple Houseware shoe rack that more than 9,000 shoppers bought in the last month alone. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 19 Feb. 2024 The child was seen in the bathroom racking the slide of the handgun and waving it around, the witnesses told the teacher, the report said. Joe Kottke, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024 Despite racking his brain and feeling on the brink of remembering, the actor’s name remained frustratingly elusive. Mark Travers, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 The vulnerability of communities in hazard-prone areas is a common issue in the Philippines, an archipelago that is racked by such various disasters as earthquakes and typhoons. Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2024 As his mother’s cocaine fiefdom racked in around $2.6 million a day at its height, Blanco soaked up the luxury lifestyle. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2024 With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there’s little time to rack your brain over the perfect gift, especially given that delivery windows are narrowing by the second. Andie Kanaras, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2024 The two resolve not to act on their feelings so not to hurt Joey, but later share a passionate kiss, which leaves Chandler racked with guilt. EW.com, 31 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rack.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, probably from Middle Dutch rec framework; akin to Old English reccan to stretch, Greek oregein — more at right

Noun (2)

perhaps from rack entry 1

Noun (3)

alteration of wrack

Verb (2)

probably alteration of rock entry 1

Noun (5)

Middle English rak rain cloud, rapid movement

Verb (4)

Middle English rakken, from Old French (Norman & Picard dialect) reequier, probably from Late Latin reaedificare to rebuild, repair, improve, from Latin re- + aedificare to build — more at edify

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 8

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Noun (2)

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (3)

1592, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1580, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun (5)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

1590, in the meaning defined above

Verb (4)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rack was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rack

Cite this Entry

“Rack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rack. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rack

1 of 4 noun
1
: a framework for holding fodder for livestock
2
: an instrument of torture on which a body is stretched
3
: a framework or stand on or in which articles are placed
hat rack
bicycle rack
4
: a bar with teeth on one side for fitting together with those of a pinion
5
: a pair of antlers

rack

2 of 4 verb
1
: to cause to suffer torture, pain, sorrow, or ruin
racked by a cough
2
: to stretch or strain violently
racked his brains for the answer
3
: to place (as pool balls) in a rack

rack

3 of 4 noun
: either of two gaits of a horse:
b
: a fast showy gait similar to the pace but in which the feet of the same side do not touch down at the same time

rack

4 of 4 noun
: a cut of meat from a lamb or pig that includes some of the rib section

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