3 (ranks) the people belonging to or constituting a group or class:the ranks of Britain’s unemployed
(the ranks) (in the armed forces) those who are not commissioned officers:he was fined and reduced to the ranks
4 Mathematics the value or the order of the largest non-zero determinant of a given matrix.
ზმნა
Universal
1give (someone or something) a rank or place within a grading system:students ranked the samples in order of preference [with object and complement]:she is ranked number four in the world
[no object, with adverbial] have a specified rank or place within a grading system:he now ranks third in America
[with object]US take precedence over (someone) in respect of rank; outrank:the Secretary of State ranks all the other members of the cabinet
2arrange in a row or rows:the tents were ranked in orderly rows
break rank (or ranks)
(of soldiers or police officers) fail to remain in line.
fail to maintain solidarity:the government is prepared to break ranks with the Allied states
close ranks
(of soldiers or police officers) come closer together in a line.
unite in order to defend common interests:the family had always closed ranks in times of crisis
keep rank
(of soldiers or police officers) remain in line.
pull rank
take unfair advantage of one’s seniority:someone pulled rank and took my place
rise through (or from) the ranks
(of a private or a non-commissioned officer) receive a commission.
advance in an organization by one’s own efforts:he rose through the ranks to become managing director