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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Range \Range\ (r[=a]nj), verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Ranged} (r[=a]njd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Ranging} (r[=a]n"j[i^]ng).] [OE. rengen, OF. rengier, F. ranger, OF. renc row, rank, F. rang; of German origin. See {Rank}, noun]
1. To set in a row, or in rows; to place in a regular line or lines, or in ranks; to dispose in the proper order; to rank; as, to range soldiers in line.
Maccabeus ranged his army by bands. --2 Macc. xii. 20.
2. To place (as a single individual) among others in a line, row, or order, as in the ranks of an army; -- usually, reflexively and figuratively, (in the sense) to espouse a cause, to join a party, etc.
It would be absurd in me to range myself on the side of the Duke of Bedford and the corresponding society. --Burke.
3. To separate into parts; to sift. [Obs.] --Holland.
4. To dispose in a classified or in systematic order; to arrange regularly; as, to range plants and animals in genera and species.
5. To rove over or through; as, to range the fields.
Teach him to range the ditch, and force the brake. --Gay.
6. To sail or pass in a direction parallel to or near; as, to range the coast.
Note: Compare the last two senses (5 and 6) with the French ranger une c[^o]te.
7. (Biol.) To be native to, or to live in; to frequent.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
ranging
adjective: wandering freely; "at night in bed...his slowly ranging thoughts...encountered her"
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |