rule

nouns

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
"it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast"; "short haircuts were the regulation"
regulation, rule
something regarded as a normative example
"the convention of not naming the main character"; "violence is the rule not the exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors"
convention, formula, normal, pattern, rule
prescribed guide for conduct or action
prescript, rule
(linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice
linguistic rule, rule
a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
"their principles of composition characterized all their works"
principle, rule
the duration of a monarch's or government's power
"during the rule of Elizabeth"
rule
is a type of (narrower)
the period of time during which something continues
continuance, duration
dominance or power through legal authority
"France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa"; "the rule of Caesar"
dominion, rule
directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted
"he knew the rules of chess"
rule
is a part of
a collection of rules or prescribed standards on the basis of which decisions are made
"they run things by the book around here"
book, rule book
is a type of (narrower)
a message describing how something is to be done
"he gave directions faster than she could follow them"
direction, instruction
any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order
"the rule of St. Dominic"
rule
is a type of (narrower)
a message describing how something is to be done
"he gave directions faster than she could follow them"
direction, instruction
a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system
"the principle of the conservation of mass"; "the principle of jet propulsion"; "the right-hand rule for inductive fields"
principle, rule
(mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems
"he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs"; "he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials"
formula, rule
measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths
rule, ruler

verbs

exercise authority over; as of nations
"Who is governing the country now?"
govern, rule
is derived from
ruler
decide with authority
"The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed"
decree, rule
is derived from
ruler
see also
rule out
be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
"Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"
dominate, predominate, prevail, reign, rule
decide on and make a declaration about
"find someone guilty"
find, rule
is derived from
ruling
have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac
rule
is a type of (narrower)
be present or associated with an event or entity
"French fries come with the hamburger"; "heart attacks are accompanied by distruction of heart tissue"; "fish usually goes with white wine"; "this kind of vein accompanies certain arteries"
accompany, attach to, come with, go with
mark or draw with a ruler
"rule the margins"
rule
is derived from
ruler
is a type of (narrower)
represent by making a drawing of, as with a pencil, chalk, etc. on a surface
"She drew an elephant"; "Draw me a horse"
draw
keep in check
"rule one's temper"
harness, rein, rule