Range \Range\, n. [From Range, v.: cf. F. rang['e]e.]
   1. A series of things in a line; a row; a rank; as, a range
      of buildings; a range of mountains.
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   2. An aggregate of individuals in one rank or degree; an
      order; a class.
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            The next range of beings above him are the
            immaterial intelligences.             --Sir M. Hale.
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   3. The step of a ladder; a rung. --Clarendon.
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   4. A kitchen grate. [Obs.]
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            He was bid at his first coming to take off the
            range, and let down the cinders.      --L'Estrange.
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   5. An extended cooking apparatus of cast iron, set in
      brickwork, and affording conveniences for various ways of
      cooking; also, a kind of cooking stove.
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   6. A bolting sieve to sift meal. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
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   7. A wandering or roving; a going to and fro; an excursion; a
      ramble; an expedition.
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            He may take a range all the world over. --South.
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   8. That which may be ranged over; place or room for
      excursion; especially, a region of country in which cattle
      or sheep may wander and pasture.
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   9. Extent or space taken in by anything excursive; compass or
      extent of excursion; reach; scope; discursive power; as,
      the range of one's voice, or authority.
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            Far as creation's ample range extends. --Pope.
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            The range and compass of Hammond's knowledge filled
            the whole circle of the arts.         --Bp. Fell.
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            A man has not enough range of thought. --Addison.
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   10. (Biol.) The region within which a plant or animal
       naturally lives.
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   11. (Gun.)
       (a) The horizontal distance to which a shot or other
           projectile is carried.
       (b) Sometimes, less properly, the trajectory of a shot or
           projectile.
       (c) A place where shooting, as with cannons or rifles, is
           practiced.
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   12. In the public land system of the United States, a row or
       line of townships lying between two successive meridian
       lines six miles apart.
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   Note: The meridians included in each great survey are
         numbered in order east and west from the "principal
         meridian" of that survey, and the townships in the
         range are numbered north and south from the "base
         line," which runs east and west; as, township No. 6,
         N., range 7, W., from the fifth principal meridian.
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   13. (Naut.) See Range of cable, below.
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   Range of accommodation (Optics), the distance between the
      near point and the far point of distinct vision, --
      usually measured and designated by the strength of the
      lens which if added to the refracting media of the eye
      would cause the rays from the near point to appear as if
      they came from the far point.

   Range finder (Gunnery), an instrument, or apparatus,
      variously constructed, for ascertaining the distance of an
      inaccessible object, -- used to determine what elevation
      must be given to a gun in order to hit the object; a
      position finder.

   Range of cable (Naut.), a certain length of slack cable
      ranged along the deck preparatory to letting go the
      anchor.

   Range work (Masonry), masonry of squared stones laid in
      courses each of which is of even height throughout the
      length of the wall; -- distinguished from broken range
      work, which consists of squared stones laid in courses not
      continuously of even height.

   To get the range of (an object) (Gun.), to find the angle
      at which the piece must be raised to reach (the object)
      without carrying beyond.
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