Meaning of rack In English

• 0 a frame or shelf, often formed of bars, that is used to hold things:

  • a vegetable rack

  • a plate rack

  • a luggage rack

• 1 a large piece of meat cut from the neck of a sheep or pig:

  • The butcher prepared a rack of pork.

  • We're having rack of lamb for dinner.

• 2 a bar with tooth-like parts along one edge that fits into a pinion (= a wheel with tooth-like parts) allowing change between circular and straight-line movement

• 3 a state of decay:

  • The whole farm was going to rack and ruin.

• 4 to cause physical or mental pain, or trouble, to someone or something:

  • Even at the end, when cancer racked his body, he was calm and cheerful.

  • The dog was already racked by/with the pains of old age.

  • He was racked by/with doubts/guilt.

• 5 a frame, often with bars or hooks, for holding or hanging things:

  • a bike rack

  • a towel rack

• 6 to cause someone great physical or mental pain:

  • Even near the end, when cancer racked his body, he remained hopeful.