Rule meaning

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

“it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast”

“short haircuts were the regulation”

something regarded as a normative example

“the convention of not naming the main character”

“violence is the rule not the exception”

prescribed guide for conduct or action

(linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice

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”

the duration of a monarch's or government's power

“during the rule of Elizabeth”

dominance or power through legal authority

“France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa”

“the rule of Caesar”

directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted

“he knew the rules of chess”

any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order

“the rule of St. Dominic”

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”

(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”

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

exercise authority over; as of nations

“Who is governing the country now?”

decide with authority

“The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed”

be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance

“Money reigns supreme here”

“Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood”

decide on and make a declaration about

“find someone guilty”

have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac

mark or draw with a ruler

“rule the margins”

keep in check

“rule one's temper”