# rack

/ˈɹæk/ (US) · /ɹˈæk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rack
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. storage frame

noun · CEFR B1

a frame or set of shelves used to hold, hang, or display things.

For teachers: a framework or stand, often consisting of bars or shelves, designed for holding, hanging, or displaying specific items.

- He hung his wet coat on the drying rack in the laundry room.
- The retail space was organised with several minimalist clothing racks to ensure the designer garments remained the focal point of the boutique.

### 2. cut of meat

noun · CEFR B2

a piece of meat, usually lamb or pork, that includes several ribs.

For teachers: a culinary cut of meat, typically from the rib section of a sheep or pig, containing several adjacent ribs.

- We ordered a rack of lamb with rosemary for the holiday dinner.
- The chef prepared a herb-crusted rack of venison, carefully trimming the fat to highlight the lean quality of the meat.

### 3. torture device

noun · CEFR C1 · Archaic

an old machine used to hurt people by stretching their bodies.

For teachers: a historical instrument of torture consisting of a rectangular frame with rollers at both ends used to stretch the victim's limbs.

- The museum had a model of a medieval rack used hundreds of years ago.
- Historical accounts of the Tower of London often mention the rack as a primary method for extracting confessions from political prisoners.

### 4. billiards triangle

noun · CEFR B2

the triangle used to group the balls together before starting a game of pool.

For teachers: a triangular frame used to align and pack billiard balls into a specific formation at the commencement of a game.

- He placed the balls in the rack and made sure they were tight before the break.
- The referee checked the rack to ensure every ball was in its designated position according to the tournament regulations.

### 5. female breasts

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar

a slang word for a woman's breasts.

For teachers: a slang term referring to a woman's breasts, generally considered objectifying or disrespectful.

- He made a rude comment about her rack and she walked away.
- The dialogue in the film was criticised for its reliance on crude jokes about a female character's rack.

Teaching tip: This term is highly informal and often offensive; learners should avoid using it as it can be seen as sexist or objectifying.

### 6. to cause pain or strain

verb · CEFR B2

to cause someone great physical or mental pain.

For teachers: to subject someone to intense physical or mental suffering; often used figuratively regarding one's thoughts.

- I had to rack my brain for an hour to remember where I left my keys.
- The witness was racked with guilt as he struggled to recount the events of the accident to the police.

Usage: Commonly appears in the idiom 'rack one's brain'.

### 7. to prepare a firearm

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to pull back the slide of a gun to get it ready to fire.

For teachers: to manually operate the slide or bolt of a firearm to chamber a round of ammunition.

- In the movie, the hero racks his shotgun before entering the building.
- The officer was trained to rack the slide with a firm, decisive motion to prevent the weapon from jamming during a high-stress encounter.

## Examples

- I put my coat on the rack by the door.
- The store manager spent the morning organizing the new summer collection on the clothing rack.
- The laboratory technician carefully placed the test tubes into the metal rack before starting the centrifuge to ensure no samples were spilled during the process.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.