noun
plural ranks
a position in a society, organization, group, etc. [noncount]
[noncount] :a high position in a society, organization, group, etc. - usually used after of
ranks [plural]
the people or things that belong to a particular organization or group
the people in the army, navy, air force, etc., who are not officers
[count] :a row of people or things
[count] Brit :taxi stand
break ranks
also break rank
to step out of a line
to no longer agree with or support a person or group - often + with
close ranks
to join together to support or protect someone or something that is in trouble
pull rank
to use your high position in a society, organization, group, etc., to order someone to do something or to get special treatment or privileges
verb
not used in progressive tenses ranks; ranked; ranking
[+ obj] :to place (someone or something) in a particular position among a group of people or things that are being judged according to quality, ability, size, etc.
[no obj] :to have a particular position in a group of people or things that are being judged according to quality, ability, size, etc.
[+ obj] :to arrange (people or things) in a line or row - usually used as (be) ranked
adjective
[more ~; most ~] :having a strong, unpleasant smell
[more ~; most ~] :very bad and obvious
b always used before a noun :complete or total
of plants :growing too quickly and over too much land