# ranch

/ˈɹæntʃ/ (US) · /ɹˈɑːntʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ranch
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. livestock farm

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a very large farm, especially in the Americas, where animals like cattle, sheep, or horses are raised.

For teachers: a large estate or farm used for the breeding and raising of livestock, particularly cattle or sheep.

- The family owns a huge cattle ranch in Texas with thousands of animals.
- The ranch spans several thousand acres of rugged terrain, requiring the staff to use off-road vehicles to monitor the herd effectively.

Usage: Often used as a countable noun for the land itself or an uncountable noun for the business.

### 2. house style

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a long, low house that is built all on one level.

For teachers: a style of domestic architecture featuring a long, low profile and a single-storey floor plan.

- They decided to buy a ranch because they didn't want to climb stairs.
- The suburban development consisted mostly of mid-century ranches, each featuring an open-plan living area and large sliding glass doors.

### 3. salad dressing

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a creamy salad dressing made from buttermilk, garlic, and herbs.

For teachers: a condiment or dipping sauce typically composed of buttermilk, salt, garlic, onion, and various herbs.

- I usually order a side of ranch to dip my pizza crusts in.
- The chef prepared a house-made ranch that was significantly thinner and more herb-forward than the bottled versions found in supermarkets.

### 4. to run a ranch

verb · CEFR C1 · American English · Formal

to manage or work on a large livestock farm.

For teachers: to engage in the business of raising livestock on a ranch.

- His ancestors have been ranching in this valley for over a century.
- The family has ranched this land for generations, adapting their methods as the climate became increasingly arid.

Usage: The verb can be used transitively with the land as the object or intransitively.

## Examples

- My uncle works on a cattle ranch in Texas.
- The family decided to sell their ranch after the drought made it too difficult to feed the horses.
- 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.

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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.