–noun

1.	a conveyance of an interest in property as security for the repayment of money borrowed.

2.	the deed by which such a transaction is effected.

3.	the rights conferred by it, or the state of the property conveyed.

–verb (used with object)

4.	Law. to convey or place (real property) under a mortgage.

5.	to place under advance obligation; pledge: to mortgage one's life to the defense of democracy.

–noun

1.	the amount of a charge or payment with reference to some basis of calculation: a high rate of interest on loans.

2.	a certain quantity or amount of one thing considered in relation to a unit of another thing and used as a standard or measure: at the rate of 60 miles an hour.

3.	a fixed charge per unit of quantity: a rate of 10 cents a pound.

4.	price; cost: to cut rates on all home furnishings.

5.	degree of speed, progress, etc.: to work at a rapid rate.

6.	degree or comparative extent of action or procedure: the rate of increase in work output.

7.	relative condition or quality; grade, class, or sort.

8.	assigned position in any of a series of graded classes; rating.

9.	Insurance. the premium charge per unit of insurance.

10.	a charge by a common carrier for transportation, sometimes including certain services involved in rendering such transportation.

11.	a wage paid on a specified time basis: a salary figured on an hourly rate.

12.	a charge or price established in accordance with a scale or standard: hotel rates based on length of stay.

13.	Horology. the relative adherence of a timepiece to perfect timekeeping, measured in terms of the amount of time gained or lost within a certain period.

14.	Usually, rates. British. a. a tax on property for some local purpose. b. any tax assessed and paid to a local government, as any city tax or district tax.

–verb (used with object)

15.	to estimate the value or worth of; appraise: to rate a student's class performance.

16.	to esteem, consider, or account: He was rated one of the best writers around.

17.	to fix at a certain rate, as of charge or payment.

18.	to value for purposes of taxation or the like.

19.	to make subject to the payment of a certain rate or tax.

20.	to place in a certain rank, class, etc., as a ship or a sailor; give a specific rating to.

21.	to be consid aad ered or treated as worthy of; merit: an event that doesn't even rate a mention in most histories of the period.

22.	to arrange for the conveyance of (goods) at a certain rate.

–verb (used without object)

23.	to have value, standing, etc.: a performance that didn't rate very high in the competition.

24.	to have position in a certain class.

25.	to rank very high in estimation: The new teacher really rates with our class.

—Idiom

26.	at any rate, a. in any event; in any case. b. at least: It was a mediocre film, but at any rate there was one outstanding individual performance.