1
- a framework, typically with rails, bars, hooks, or pegs, for holding or storing things（尤指设有横杆、横木、挂钩或挂钉的）架子, 挂架, 支架, 搁架：
a spice rack
调味品架
a letter rack.
信函架。
1.1
- an overhead shelf on a coach, train, or plane for stowing luggage（长途汽车、火车或飞机的）行李架。
1.2
- a vertically barred frame for holding animal fodder栅条式草料饲槽, 喂草架：
a hay rack.
喂干草的架子。
1.3
- N. Amer. a set of antlers.〈北美〉一对鹿角。
1.4
- N. Amer. informal a bed.〈北美, 非正式〉床。
2
- a cogged or toothed bar or rail engaging with a wheel or pinion, or using pegs to adjust the position of something齿条, 齿轨：
a steering rack.
转向齿条。
3
the rack
historical an instrument of torture consisting of a frame on which the victim was stretched by turning rollers to which the wrists and ankles were tied〈史〉肢刑架（一种以转轮牵拉四肢的刑具）。
4
- a triangular structure for positioning the balls in pool（用来固定台球位置的）三角框。比较FRAME （义项5）。
4.1
- a single game of pool一局台球比赛。
5
- a digital effects unit for a guitar or other instrument, typically giving many different sounds（吉他等乐器的）数字音响效果装置。
with obj.
1
- （亦作wrack）（常作be racked）cause extreme physical or mental pain to; subject to extreme stress使遭受剧烈痛苦, 折磨; 使受极端压力：
he was racked with guilt.
他深受内疚煎熬。
1.1
- historical torture (someone) on the rack〈史〉对…施以肢刑。
2
- with obj. and adverbial of place place in or on a rack把…放在架子里（或架子上）：
the shoes were racked neatly beneath the dresses.
架子上鞋子整洁地摆放在衣服下。
2.1
- with obj. put (pool balls) in a rack把（台球）摆成三角形。
3
- move by a rack and pinion用齿条及小齿轮传动。
4
- chiefly archaic raise (rent) above a fair or normal amount〈主古〉不合理地提高（租金）。参见RACK-RENT.
4.1
- oppress (a tenant) by exacting excessive rent（通过索要过多租金）欺压（租户）。
USAGE
The relationship between the forms rack and wrack is complicated. The most common noun sense of rack, 'a framework for holding and storing things', is always spelled rack, never wrack. In the phrase rack something up the word is also always spelled rack. Figurative senses of the verb, deriving from the type of torture in which someone is stretched on a rack, can, however, be spelled either rack or wrack： thus racked with guilt or wracked with guilt; rack your brains or wrack your brains. In addition, the phrase rack and ruin can also be spelled wrack and ruin.
短语
go to rack （或wrack） and ruin
- gradually deteriorate in condition because of neglect; fall into disrepair走向毁灭, 弄得一团糟; 陷入失修状态。
- ORIGIN: rack from Old English wræc 'vengeance': related to WREAK.
on the rack
- suffering intense distress or strain忍受极度痛苦（或紧张）。
rack （或wrack） one's brains （或brain）
- make a great effort to think of or remember something冥思苦想, 绞尽脑汁。
词源
Middle English: from Middle Dutch rec, Middle Low German rek 'horizontal bar or shelf', probably from recken 'to stretch, reach' (possibly the source of sense 1 of the verb).
短语动词
rack something up
- accumulate or achieve something, typically a score or amount积累; 取得（某物, 尤指得分, 数量）：
Japan is racking up record trade surpluses with the United States.
日本与美国的贸易顺差正在创新高。
- a horse's gait in which both hoofs on either side in turn are lifted almost simultaneously, and all four hoofs are off the ground together at certain moments伸长快步（指马侧蹄几乎同时依次抬起、四蹄偶尔同时离地的步态）。
词源
mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.
短语动词
rack off
- in imperative Austral./NZ informal go away.〈澳/新西兰, 非正式〉走开, 离去。
- a joint of meat, typically lamb, that includes the front ribs（尤指羊带前肋的）颈脊肉。
词源
late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.
with obj.
- draw off (wine, beer, etc.) from the sediment in the barrel（从酒桶渣滓中）抽取（葡萄酒, 啤酒等）：
the wine is racked off into large oak casks.
葡萄酒被抽吸进大橡木桶里。
词源
late 15th cent.: from Provençal arracar, from raca 'stems and husks of grapes, dregs'.
词源
Middle English (denoting a rush or collision)： probably of Scandinavian origin: compare with Norwegian and Swedish dialect rak 'wreckage', from reka 'to drive'.