–noun

1.	a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement, etc.: the rules of chess.

2.	the code of regulations observed by a religious order or congregation: the Franciscan rule.

3.	the customary or normal circumstance, occurrence, manner, practice, quality, etc.: the rule rather than the exception.

4.	control, government, or dominion: under the rule of a dictator.

5.	tenure or conduct of reign or office: during the rule of George III.

6.	a prescribed mathematical method for performing a calculation or solving a problem.

7.	ruler (def. 2).

8.	(initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Norma.

9.	Printing. a thin, type-high strip of metal, for printing a solid or decorative line or lines.

10.	Law. a. a formal order or direction made by a court, as for governing the procedure of the court (general rule) or for sending the case before a referee (special rule). b. a legal principle. c. a court order in a particular case.

11.	rules, Penology. (formerly) a. a fixed area in the neighborhood of certain prisons within which certain prisoners were allowed to live. b. the freedom of such an area.

12.	Obsolete. behavior.

–verb (used with object)

13.	to control or direct; exercise dominating power, authority, or influence over; govern: to rule the empire with severity.

14.	to decide or declare judicially or authoritatively; decree: The judge ruled that he should be exiled.

15.	to mark with lines, esp. parallel straight lines, with the aid of a ruler or the like: to rule paper.

16.	to mark out or form (a line) by this method: to rule lines on paper.

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