ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ranch

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈɹæntʃ// UK //ɹˈɑːntʃ// ranch

n. a very large farm where people raise animals like cows, sheep, or horses. It is common in places with a lot of open land, like the western United States.

n. a large farm, especially in North America or Australia, dedicated to the breeding and raising of livestock. Often used to describe the physical property and the business operation combined.


SIMPLE

My uncle works on a cattle ranch in Texas.

CONTEXTUAL

The family decided to sell their ranch after the drought made it too difficult to feed the horses.

COMPLEX

Spanning thousands of acres of rugged terrain, the ranch serves as both a commercial enterprise and a critical habitat for local wildlife species that thrive in the open grasslands.

Synonyms
Origin

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.

Usage

Commonly used with the preposition 'on' when referring to working or living there.

Idioms1 entry

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