rule

1. A principle or condition that customarily governs behavior (synset 105854581)
   "it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast"; "short haircuts were the regulation"
   is a type of: concept, conception, construct - an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
   subtypes:

   • limitation, restriction - a principle that limits the extent of something
   • guideline, guidepost, rule of thumb - a rule or principle that provides guidance to appropriate behavior
   • cy pres, cy pres doctrine, rule of cy pres - a rule that when literal compliance is impossible the intention of a donor or testator should be carried out as nearly as possible
   • working principle, working rule - a rule that is adequate to permit work to be done
   same as: regulation
2. Something regarded as a normative example (synset 105675457)
   "the convention of not naming the main character"; "violence is the rule not the exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors"
   is a type of: practice - knowledge of how something is usually done
   subtypes:

   • mores - (sociology) the conventions that embody the fundamental values of a group
   • code of behavior, code of conduct - a set of conventional principles and expectations that are considered binding on any person who is a member of a particular group
   • universal - a behavioral convention or pattern characteristic of all members of a particular culture or of all human beings
   same as: convention, formula, normal, pattern
3. Prescribed guide for conduct or action (synset 106664987)
   is a type of: direction, instruction - a message describing how something is to be done
   subtypes:

   • bylaw - a rule adopted by an organization in order to regulate its own affairs and the behavior of its members
   • rubric - an authoritative rule of conduct or procedure
   • order, parliamentary law, parliamentary procedure, rules of order - a body of rules followed by an assembly
   • rule of evidence - (law) a rule of law whereby any alleged matter of fact that is submitted for investigation at a judicial trial is established or disproved
   • miranda rule - the rule that police (when interrogating you after an arrest) are obliged to warn you that anything you say may be used as evidence and to read you your constitutional rights (the right to a lawyer and the right to remain silent until advised by a lawyer)
   • precept, principle - rule of personal conduct
   • golden rule - any important rule
   • gigo - (computer science) a rule stating that the quality of the output is a function of the quality of the input; put garbage in and you get garbage out
   • dictate - an authoritative rule
   • ordinance, regulation - an authoritative rule
   • canon - a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field of art or philosophy
   • etiquette - rules governing socially acceptable behavior
   • communications protocol, protocol - (computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data
   is a part of: book, rule book - a collection of rules or prescribed standards on the basis of which decisions are made
   same as: prescript
4. (linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice (synset 107274440)
   referred to in: linguistics - the scientific study of language
   is a type of: concept, conception, construct - an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
   subtypes:

   • linguistic universal, universal - (linguistics) a grammatical rule (or other linguistic feature) that is found in all languages
   • grammatical rule, rule of grammar - a linguistic rule for the syntax of grammatical utterances
   • morphological rule, rule of morphology - a linguistic rule for the formation of words
   same as: linguistic rule
5. A basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct (synset 105922132)
   "their principles of composition characterized all their works"
   is a type of: generalisation, generality, generalization - an idea or conclusion having general application
   subtypes:

   • pillar - a fundamental principle or practice
   • yang - the bright positive masculine principle in Chinese dualistic cosmology
   • yin - the dark negative feminine principle in Chinese dualistic cosmology
   • feng shui - rules in Chinese philosophy that govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to patterns of yin and yang and the flow of energy (qi); the favorable or unfavorable effects are taken into consideration in designing and siting buildings and graves and furniture
   same as: principle
6. The duration of a monarch's or government's power (synset 115320659)
   "during the rule of Elizabeth"
   is a type of: continuance, duration - the period of time during which something continues
   subtypes: regency - the period of time during which a regent governs
   specific instances: regency - the period from 1811-1820 when the Prince of Wales was regent during George III's periods of insanity
7. Dominance or power through legal authority (synset 114466399)
   "France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa"; "the rule of Caesar"
   is a type of: ascendance, ascendancy, ascendence, ascendency, control, dominance - the state that exists when one person or group has power over another
   subtypes:

   • paramountcy - the state of being paramount; the highest rank or authority
   • raj - British dominion over India (1757-1947)
   • reign, sovereignty - royal authority; the dominion of a monarch
   • suzerainty - the position or authority of a suzerain
   same as: dominion
8. Directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted (synset 106801754)
   "he knew the rules of chess"
   is a type of: direction, instruction - a message describing how something is to be done
   subtypes: ground rule - (baseball) a special rule (as in baseball) dealing with situations that arise due to the nature of the playing grounds
   is a part of: book, rule book - a collection of rules or prescribed standards on the basis of which decisions are made
9. Any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order (synset 106664809)
   "the rule of St. Dominic"
   is a type of: direction, instruction - a message describing how something is to be done
10. A rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system (synset 105882839)
    "the principle of the conservation of mass"; "the principle of jet propulsion"; "the right-hand rule for inductive fields"
    is a type of: law, law of nature - a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature
    subtypes:

    • gestalt law of organization, gestalt principle of organization - a principle of Gestalt psychology that identifies factors leading to particular forms of perceptual organization
    • le chatelier principle, le chatelier's law, le chatelier's principle, le chatelier-braun principle - the principle that if any change is imposed on a system that is in equilibrium then the system tends to adjust to a new equilibrium counteracting the change
    • gresham's law - (economics) the principle that when two kinds of money having the same denominational value are in circulation the intrinsically more valuable money will be hoarded and the money of lower intrinsic value will circulate more freely until the intrinsically more valuable money is driven out of circulation; bad money drives out good; credited to Sir Thomas Gresham
    • mass-energy equivalence - (physics) the principle that a measured quantity of mass is equivalent (according to relativity theory) to a measured quantity of energy
    • naegele's rule - rule for calculating an expected delivery date; subtract three months from the first day of the last menstrual period and add seven days to that date
    • law of parsimony, occam's razor, ockham's razor, principle of parsimony - the principle that entities should not be multiplied needlessly; the simplest of two competing theories is to be preferred
    • principle of equivalence - (physics) the principle that an observer has no way of distinguishing whether his laboratory is in a uniform gravitational field or is in an accelerated frame of reference
    • principle of liquid displacement - (hydrostatics) the volume of a body immersed in a fluid is equal to the volume of the displaced fluid
    • huygens' principle of superposition, principle of superposition - the displacement of any point due to the superposition of wave systems is equal to the sum of the displacements of the individual waves at that point
    • principle of superposition, superposition, superposition principle - (geology) the principle that in a series of stratified sedimentary rocks the lowest stratum is the oldest
    • mass action, mass-action principle - (neurology) the principle that the cortex of the brain operates as a coordinated system with large masses of neural tissue involved in all complex functioning
    • localisation, localisation of function, localisation principle, localization, localization of function, localization principle - (physiology) the principle that specific functions have relatively circumscribed locations in some particular part or organ of the body
    same as: principle
11. (mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems (synset 105855459)
    "he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs"; "he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials"
    referred to in: math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement
    is a type of: procedure, process - a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
    subtypes:

    • metarule - a rule that describes how other rules should be used (as in AI)
    • algorithm, algorithmic program, algorithmic rule - a precise rule (or set of rules) specifying how to solve some problem
    • heuristic, heuristic program, heuristic rule - a commonsense rule (or set of rules) intended to increase the probability of solving some problem
    • recursion - (mathematics) an expression such that each term is generated by repeating a particular mathematical operation
    same as: formula
12. 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 (synset 104125870)
    is a type of: measure, measuring rod, measuring stick - measuring instrument having a sequence of marks at regular intervals; used as a reference in making measurements
    subtypes:

    • carpenter's rule - a rule used by a carpenter
    • foot rule - a ruler one foot long
    • meterstick, metrestick - a rule one meter long (usually marked off in centimeters and millimeters)
    • yard measure, yardstick - a ruler or tape that is three feet long
    same as: ruler

1. Exercise authority over;
   As of nations (synset 202592711)
   "Who is governing the country now?"
   is a type of: command, control - exercise authoritative control or power over
   subtypes:

   • throne - sit on the throne as a ruler
   • misgovern - govern badly
   • dictate - rule as a dictator
   • reign - have sovereign power
   same as: govern
2. Decide with authority (synset 200717773)
   "The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed"
   is a type of: decide, determine, make up one's mind - reach, make, or come to a decision about something
   subtypes:

   • override, overrule, overthrow, overturn, reverse - rule against
   • rule in, rule out - include or exclude by determining judicially or in agreement with rules
   same as: decree
3. Be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance (synset 202650318)
   "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"
   subtypes:

   • override - prevail over
   • overarch - be central or dominant
   • outbalance, outweigh, overbalance, preponderate - weigh more heavily
   same as: dominate, predominate, prevail, reign
4. Decide on and make a declaration about (synset 200974031)
   "find someone guilty"
   is a type of: judge, label, pronounce - pronounce judgment on
   same as: find
   verb group: feel, find - come to believe on the basis of emotion, intuitions, or indefinite grounds
5. Have an affinity with;
   Of signs of the zodiac (synset 202722870)
   is a type of: accompany, attach to, come with, go with - be present or associated with an event or entity
6. Mark or draw with a ruler (synset 201693915)
   "rule the margins"
   is a type of: draw - represent by making a drawing of, as with a pencil, chalk, etc. on a surface
7. Keep in check (synset 200235558)
   "rule one's temper"
   is a type of: hold back, keep, keep back, restrain - prevent the action or expression of
   same as: harness, rein

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