ranch
n. · v.-
1 livestock farm (n.) B1 Intermediate American Englisha very large farm, especially in the Americas, where animals like cattle, sheep, or horses are raised.
a large estate or farm used for the breeding and raising of livestock, particularly cattle or sheep.
ExampleThe family owns a huge cattle ranch in Texas with thousands of animals.
ExampleThe ranch spans several thousand acres of rugged terrain, requiring the staff to use off-road vehicles to monitor the herd effectively.
UsageOften used as a countable noun for the land itself or an uncountable noun for the business.
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2 house style (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate American Englisha long, low house that is built all on one level.
a style of domestic architecture featuring a long, low profile and a single-storey floor plan.
ExampleThey decided to buy a ranch because they didn't want to climb stairs.
ExampleThe suburban development consisted mostly of mid-century ranches, each featuring an open-plan living area and large sliding glass doors.
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3 salad dressing (n.) B1 Intermediate American English Cookinga creamy salad dressing made from buttermilk, garlic, and herbs.
a condiment or dipping sauce typically composed of buttermilk, salt, garlic, onion, and various herbs.
ExampleI usually order a side of ranch to dip my pizza crusts in.
ExampleThe chef prepared a house-made ranch that was significantly thinner and more herb-forward than the bottled versions found in supermarkets.
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4 to run a ranch (v.) C1 Advanced American English Formalto manage or work on a large livestock farm.
to engage in the business of raising livestock on a ranch.
ExampleHis ancestors have been ranching in this valley for over a century.
ExampleThe family has ranched this land for generations, adapting their methods as the climate became increasingly arid.
UsageThe verb can be used transitively with the land as the object or intransitively.
Recorded since 1808, farm sense since 1831. From American Spanish rancho (“small farm, group of farm huts”), in Spanish originally “group of people who eat together." Cognate with English rank.
- Nounranch
- Nounrancher