a framework of bars, wires, or pegs on which articles are arranged or deposited

a clothes rack; a luggage rack.

a fixture containing several tiered shelves, often affixed to a wall

a book rack; a spice rack.

a spreading framework set on a wagon for carrying hay, straw, or the like, in large loads.

Pool .

a wooden frame of triangular shape within which the balls are arranged before play.

the balls so arranged

He took aim at the rack.

Machinery .

a bar, with teeth on one of its sides, adapted to engage with the teeth of a pinion (rack and pinion) or the like, as for converting circular into rectilinear motion or vice versa.

a bar having a series of notches engaging with a pawl or the like.

a former instrument of torture consisting of a framework on which a victim was tied, often spread-eagled, by the wrists and ankles, to be slowly stretched by spreading the parts of the framework.

a cause or state of intense suffering of body or mind.

torment; anguish.

violent strain.

a pair of antlers.

Slang . a bed, cot, or bunk

I spent all afternoon in the rack.

to torture; distress acutely; torment

His body was racked with pain.

to strain in mental effort

to rack one's brains.

to strain by physical force or violence.

to strain beyond what is normal or usual.

to stretch the body of (a person) in torture by means of a rack.

Nautical . to seize (two ropes) together side by side. ?

rack out, Slang . to go to bed; go to sleep

I racked out all afternoon.

rack up,

Pool . to put (the balls) in a rack.

Informal . to tally, accumulate, or amass as an achievement or score

The corporation racked up the greatest profits in its history.

verb

please , pleasure , soothe

noun

arbor , bed , box , bracket , counter , furniture , holder , ledge , perch , receptacle , shelf , stand , structure , trestlenotes:rack is the linear gear and pinion is the circular gear in a mechanismrack is destruction and ruin is destitution; in rack and ruin , rack is a variation of wrack and wreck

verb

afflict , agonize , crucify , distress , excruciate , force , harass , harrow , martyr , oppress , pain , persecute , pull , shake , stress , stretch , tear , torment , try , wrench , wringnotes:rack is the linear gear and pinion is the circular gear in a mechanismrack is destruction and ruin is destitution; in rack and ruin , rack is a variation of wrack and wreck , anguish , curse , plague , scourge , smite , strike , torture , strain , suffering