rate
    n 1: a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit; "they
         traveled at a rate of 55 miles per hour"; "the rate of
         change was faster than expected"
    2: amount of a charge or payment relative to some basis; "a
       10-minute phone call at that rate would cost $5" [syn:
       rate, charge per unit]
    3: the relative speed of progress or change; "he lived at a fast
       pace"; "he works at a great rate"; "the pace of events
       accelerated" [syn: pace, rate]
    4: a quantity or amount or measure considered as a proportion of
       another quantity or amount or measure; "the literacy rate";
       "the retention rate"; "the dropout rate"
    v 1: assign a rank or rating to; "how would you rank these
         students?"; "The restaurant is rated highly in the food
         guide" [syn: rate, rank, range, order, grade,
         place]
    2: be worthy of or have a certain rating; "This bond rates
       highly"
    3: estimate the value of; "How would you rate his chances to
       become President?"; "Gold was rated highly among the Romans"
       [syn: rate, value]

Rate \Rate\ (r[=a]t), v. t. & i. [Perh. fr. E. rate, v. t., to
   value at a certain rate, to estimate, but more prob. fr. Sw.
   rata to find fault, to blame, to despise, to hold cheap; cf.
   Icel. hrat refuse, hrati rubbish.]
   To chide with vehemence; to scold; to censure violently; to
   berate. --Spenser.
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         Go, rate thy minions, proud, insulting boy! --Shak.
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         Conscience is a check to beginners in sin, reclaiming
         them from it, and rating them for it.    --Barrow.
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Rate \Rate\, n. [OF., fr. L. rata (sc. pars), fr. ratus
   reckoned, fixed by calculation, p. p. of reri to reckon, to
   calculate. Cf. Reason.]
   1. Established portion or measure; fixed allowance.
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            The one right feeble through the evil rate
            Of food which in her duress she had found.
                                                  --Spenser.
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   2. That which is established as a measure or criterion;
      degree; standard; rank; proportion; ratio; as, a slow rate
      of movement; rate of interest is the ratio of the interest
      to the principal, per annum.
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            Heretofore the rate and standard of wit was
            different from what it is nowadays.   --South.
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            In this did his holiness and godliness appear above
            the rate and pitch of other men's, in that he was so
            . . . merciful.                       --Calamy.
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            Many of the horse could not march at that rate, nor
            come up soon enough.                  --Clarendon.
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   3. Valuation; price fixed with relation to a standard; cost;
      charge; as, high or low rates of transportation.
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            They come at dear rates from Japan.   --Locke.
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   4. A tax or sum assessed by authority on property for public
      use, according to its income or value; esp., in England, a
      local tax; as, parish rates; town rates.
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   5. Order; arrangement. [Obs.]
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            Thus sat they all around in seemly rate. --Spenser.
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   6. Ratification; approval. [R.] --Chapman.
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   7. (Horol.) The gain or loss of a timepiece in a unit of
      time; as, daily rate; hourly rate; etc.
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   8. (Naut.)
      (a) The order or class to which a war vessel belongs,
          determined according to its size, armament, etc.; as,
          first rate, second rate, etc.
      (b) The class of a merchant vessel for marine insurance,
          determined by its relative safety as a risk, as A1,
          A2, etc.
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Rate \Rate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rated; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Rating.]
   1. To set a certain estimate on; to value at a certain price
      or degree.
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            To rate a man by the nature of his companions is a
            rule frequent indeed, but not infallible. --South.
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            You seem not high enough your joys to rate.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   2. To assess for the payment of a rate or tax.
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   3. To settle the relative scale, rank, position, amount,
      value, or quality of; as, to rate a ship; to rate a
      seaman; to rate a pension.
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   4. To ratify. [Obs.] "To rate the truce." --Chapman.
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   To rate a chronometer, to ascertain the exact rate of its
      gain or loss as compared with true time, so as to make an
      allowance or computation dependent thereon.
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   Syn: To value; appraise; estimate; reckon.
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Rate \Rate\, v. i.
   1. To be set or considered in a class; to have rank; as, the
      ship rates as a ship of the line.
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   2. To make an estimate.
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RATE. A public valuation or assessment of every man's estate; or the 
ascertaining how much tax every one shall pay. Vide Pow. Mortg. Index, h.t.; 
Harr. Dig. h.t.; 1 Hopk. C. R. 87.