• measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths
• something regarded as a normative example; "the convention of not naming the main character"; "violence is the Rule not the exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors"
• a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior; "it was his Rule to take a walk before breakfast"; "short haircuts were the regulation"
• (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems; "he determined the upper bound with Descartes'' Rule of signs"; "he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials"
• a Rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system; "the principle of the conservation of mass"; "the principle of jet propulsion"; "the right-hand Rule for inductive fields"
• a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct; "their principles of composition characterized all their works"
• any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order; "the Rule of St. Dominic"
• prescribed guide for conduct or action
• directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted; "he knew the Rules of chess"
• (linguistics) a Rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
• dominance or power through legal authority; "France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa"; "the Rule of Caesar"
• the duration of a monarch''s or government''s power; "during the Rule of Elizabeth"
• keep in check; "Rule one''s temper"
• decide with authority; "The King decreed that all first-born males should be killed"
• decide on and make a declaration about; "find someone guilty"
• mark or draw with a Ruler; "Rule the margins"
• exercise authority over; as of nations; "Who is governing the country now?"
• be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance; "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"
• have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac

'Rule' in other languages