rate
n. countablen. the speed at which something happens or how often it repeats over a period of time. It can also mean the price or cost of a service.
n. the speed with which something moves or happens; a measure, quantity, or frequency, typically one measured against another quantity or measure. Often used to describe financial charges or interest percentages.
The heart rate of the patient is normal.
The local bank offers a very competitive interest rate for new savings accounts this month.
Economists are closely monitoring the unemployment rate to determine if the recent policy changes have successfully stimulated job growth in the industrial sector.
From Middle English rate, from Old French rate, from Medieval Latin rata, from Latin prō ratā parte (“according to a fixed part”), from ratus (“fixed”), from rērī (“think, deem, judge, estimate", originally "reckon, calculate”).
From Middle English raten (“to scold, chide”), from Old Norse hrata (“to refuse, reject, slight, find fault with”), from Proto-Germanic hratōną (“to sway, shake”), from Proto-Indo-European krad- (“to swing”). Cognate with Swedish rata (“to reject, refuse, find fault, slight”), Norwegian rata (“to reject, cast aside”), Old English hratian (“to rush, hasten”).
Related to, or a variant of, ret. (Found dialectally also as rait.)
Often used with the preposition 'at' when describing speed or frequency ('at a rate of').