raked /re I kt/ ADJ [ADJ n] A raked stage or other surface is sloping, for example so that all the audience can see more clearly. □ The action takes place on a steeply raked stage.
ra ke-off (rake-offs ) N‑COUNT If someone who has helped to arrange a business deal takes or gets a rake-off , they illegally or unfairly take a share of the profits. [INFORMAL ]
rak|ish /re I k I ʃ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A rakish person or appearance is stylish in a confident, bold way. □ …a soft-brimmed hat which he wore at a rakish angle. ● rak|ish|ly ADV □ …a hat cocked rakishly over one eye.
ral|ly ◆◇◇ /ræ li/ (rallies , rallying , rallied )
1 N‑COUNT A rally is a large public meeting that is held in order to show support for something such as a political party. □ About three thousand people held a rally to mark international human rights day.
2 VERB When people rally to something or when something rallies them, they unite to support it. □ [V + to ] His supporters have rallied to his defence. □ [V n] He rallied his own supporters for a fight.
3 VERB When someone or something rallies , they begin to recover or improve after having been weak. □ [V ] He rallied enough to thank his doctors. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Rally is also a noun. □ After a brief rally the shares returned to 126p.
4 N‑COUNT A rally is a competition in which vehicles are driven over public roads. □ …an accomplished rally driver.
5 N‑COUNT A rally in tennis, badminton, or squash is a continuous series of shots that the players exchange without stopping. □ …a long rally.
▸ rally around in BRIT, also use rally round PHRASAL VERB When people rally around or rally round , they work as a group in order to support someone or something at a difficult time. □ [V P ] So many people have rallied round to help the family. □ [V P n] Connie's friends rallied round her.
ra l|ly|ing cry (rallying cries ) N‑COUNT A rallying cry or rallying call is something such as a word or phrase, an event, or a belief which encourages people to unite and to act in support of a particular group or idea. □ …the more political songs such as Meat Is Murder's rallying cry for vegetarianism.
ra l|ly|ing point (rallying points ) N‑COUNT A rallying point is a place, event, or person that people are attracted to as a symbol of a political group or ideal. □ He could serve as a rallying point for unity and independence.
ram /ræ m/ (rams , ramming , rammed )
1 VERB If a vehicle rams something such as another vehicle, it crashes into it with a lot of force, usually deliberately. □ [V n] The thieves fled, ramming the police officer's car.
2 VERB If you ram something somewhere, you push it there with great force. □ [V n adv/prep] He rammed the key into the lock and kicked the front door open.
3 N‑COUNT A ram is an adult male sheep.
4 → see also battering ram
5 PHRASE If something rams home a message or a point, it makes it clear in a way that is very forceful and that people are likely to listen to. □ The report by Marks & Spencer's chairman will ram this point home.
6 to ram something down someone's throat → see throat
RAM /ræ m/ N‑UNCOUNT RAM is the part of a computer in which information is stored while you are using it. RAM is an abbreviation for 'Random Access Memory'. [COMPUTING ] □ First examine the amount of RAM in your laptop, as too little can affect sound quality.
Rama|dan /ræ mədæn/ N‑UNCOUNT Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year, when Muslims do not eat between the rising and setting of the sun. During Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the fact that it was in this month that God first revealed the words of the Quran to Mohammed.
ram|ble /ræ mb ə l/ (rambles , rambling , rambled )
1 N‑COUNT A ramble is a long walk in the countryside. □ …an hour's ramble through the woods.
2 VERB If you ramble , you go on a long walk in the countryside. □ [V adv/prep] …freedom to ramble across the moors.
3 VERB If you say that a person rambles in their speech or writing, you mean they do not make much sense because they keep going off the subject in a confused way. □ [V ] Sometimes she spoke sensibly; sometimes she rambled.
▸ ramble on PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone is rambling on , you mean that they have been talking for a long time in a boring and rather confused way. □ [V P ] She only half-listened as Ella rambled on. □ [V P + about ] He stood in my kitchen, rambling on about Lillian.
ram|bler /ræ mblə r / (ramblers ) N‑COUNT A rambler is a person whose hobby is going on long walks in the countryside, often as part of an organized group. [BRIT ]
ram|bling /ræ mbl I ŋ/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A rambling building is big and old with an irregular shape. □ …that rambling house and its bizarre contents.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a speech or piece of writing as rambling , you are criticizing it for being too long and very confused. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ His actions were accompanied by a rambling monologue.
ram|blings /ræ mbl I ŋz/ N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] If you describe a speech or piece of writing as someone's ramblings , you are saying that it is meaningless because the person who said or wrote it was very confused or insane. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The official dismissed the speech as the ramblings of a desperate lunatic.
ram|bunc|tious /ræmbʌ ŋkʃəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A rambunctious person is energetic in a cheerful, noisy way. [mainly AM ] □ …a very rambunctious and energetic class. in BRIT, usually use rumbustious