1. (

• rule ,
• regulation

) a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior; "it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast"; "short haircuts were the regulation" ;

2. (

• convention ,
• normal ,
• pattern ,
• rule ,
• formula

) something regarded as a normative example; "the convention of not naming the main character"; "violence is the rule not the exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors" ;

3. (

• rule ,
• prescript

) prescribed guide for conduct or action ;

4. (

• rule ,
• linguistic_rule

) (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice ;

5. (

• principle ,
• rule ,

) a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct; "their principles of composition characterized all their works" ;

6. (

• rule

) the duration of a monarch's or government's power; "during the rule of Elizabeth" ;

7. (

• dominion ,
• rule

) dominance or power through legal authority; "France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa"; "the rule of Caesar" ;

8. (

• rule ,

) directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted; "he knew the rules of chess" ;

9. (

• rule ,

) any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order; "the rule of St. Dominic" ;

10. (

• principle ,
• rule ,

) a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system; "the principle of the conservation of mass"; "the principle of jet propulsion"; "the right-hand rule for inductive fields" ;

11. (

• rule ,
• formula ,

) (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems; "he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs"; "he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials" ;

12. (

• rule ,
• ruler

) measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths ;

1. (

• govern ,
• rule

) exercise authority over; as of nations; "Who is governing the country now?" ;

2. (

• rule ,
• decree

) decide with authority; "The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed" ;

3. (

• predominate ,
• dominate ,
• rule ,
• reign ,
• prevail ,

) be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance; "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood" ;

4. (

• rule ,
• find ,

) decide on and make a declaration about; "find someone guilty" ;

5. (

• rule ,

) have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac ;

6. (

• rule

) mark or draw with a ruler; "rule the margins" ;

7. (

• rule ,
• harness ,
• rein

) keep in check; "rule one's temper" ;