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1ration noun 1 : a food allowance for one day

2 : FOOD, PROVISIONS, DIET — usu. used in pl.

3 : SHARE, ALLOTMENT

2ration verb 1 : to supply with or allot as rations

2 : to use or allot sparingly

Synonyms

allocate, allot, allow, apportion, assign—more at ALLOT

1rational adjective 1 : having reason or understanding

2 : of or relating to reason

3 : relating to, consisting of, or being one or more rational numbers

4 : of, relating to, or in accordance with the principles of rationalism

— ra·tio·nal·ly adverb

Synonyms

[1] intelligent, reasonable, reasoning; also analytic, logical; brainy, cerebral, highbrow, intellectual; cognitive, mental; practical, sane, sensible

Antonyms

irrational, unintelligent, unreasonable, unreasoning, unthinking

[2, 4] good, hard, informed, just, levelheaded, logical, reasonable, reasoned, sensible, sober, solid, valid, well-founded—more at GOOD

2rational noun : RATIONAL NUMBER

ra·tio·nale noun 1 : an explanation of principles controlling belief or practice

2 : an underlying reason

Synonyms

argument, case, explanation, reason—more at REASON

ra·tio·nal·ise British variant of RATIONALIZE

ra·tio·nal·ism noun : the practice of guiding one's actions and opinions solely by what seems reasonable

— ra·tio·nal·ist noun

— rationalist or ra·tio·nal·is·tic adjective

ra·tio·nal·i·ty noun, plural -ties : the quality or state of being rational

ra·tio·nal·ize verb -ized; -iz·ing 1 : to make (something irrational) appear rational or reasonable

2 : to provide a natural explanation of (as a myth)

3 : to justify (as one's behavior or weaknesses) esp. to oneself

4 : to find plausible but untrue reasons for conduct

— ra·tio·nal·i·za·tion noun

Synonyms

[1, 3] account, explain—more at EXPLAIN

rational number noun : a number that can be expressed as an integer or the quotient of an integer divided by a nonzero integer

rat race noun : strenuous, tiresome, and usu. competitive activity or rush

rat·tan noun : a cane or switch made from one of the long stems of an Asian climbing palm; also : this palm

rat·ter noun : a rat-catching dog or cat

1rattle verb rat·tled; rat·tling 1 : to make or cause to make a series of clattering sounds

2 : to move with a clattering sound

3 : to say or do in a brisk lively fashion <~ off the answers>

4 : to upset esp. to the point of loss of poise and composure : CONFUSE <~ a witness>

5 : to chatter incessantly and aimlessly

Synonyms

[4] abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify—more at EMBARRASS

[5] maunder, ramble, run on—more at RAMBLE

2rattle noun 1 : a toy that produces a rattle when shaken

2 : a series of clattering and knocking sounds

3 : a rattling organ at the end of a rattlesnake's tail

rat·tler noun : RATTLESNAKE

rat·tle·snake noun : any of various American pit vipers with a rattle at the end of the tail

rat·tle·trap noun : something (as an old car) rickety and full of rattles

rat·tling adjective 1 : acting or capable of acting with speed : BRISK

2 : FIRST-RATE, SPLENDID

Synonyms

breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fast, fleet, hasty, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid, snappy, speedy, swift—more at FAST

rat·trap noun 1 : a trap for rats

2 : a dilapidated building

rat·ty adjective rat·ti·er; -est 1 : infested with rats

2 : of, relating to, or suggestive of rats

3 : threadbare and faded from wear : SHABBY

Synonyms

dilapidated, grungy, mangy, mean, miserable, neglected, ragged, scruffy, seedy, shabby, tacky, threadbare—more at SHABBY

rau·cous adjective 1 : HARSH, HOARSE, STRIDENT

2 : boisterously disorderly

— rau·cous·ly adverb

— rau·cous·ness noun

Synonyms

boisterous, rambunctious, rowdy—more at BOISTEROUS

raun·chy adjective raun·chi·er; -est 1 : SLOVENLY, DIRTY

2 : OBSCENE, SMUTTY

— raun·chi·ness noun

1ravage noun [ORIGIN: F]

: an act or result of ravaging : DEVASTATION

2ravage verb rav·aged; rav·ag·ing : to lay waste : DEVASTATE

— rav·ag·er noun