Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Ruler

Rul′er

(rṳl′ẽr)
,
Noun.
1.
One who rules; one who exercises sway or authority; a governor.
And he made him
ruler
over all the land.
Gen. xli. 43.
A prince and
ruler
of the land.
Shakespeare
2.
A straight or curved strip of wood, metal, etc., with a smooth edge, used for guiding a pen or pencil in drawing lines. Cf.
Rule
,
Noun.
, 7
(a)
.
Parallel ruler
.
See under
Parallel
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Ruler

RU'LER

,
Noun.
1.
One that governs, whether emperor, king, pope or governor; any one that exercises supreme power over others.
2.
One that makes or executes laws in a limited or free government. Thus legislators and magistrates are called rulers.
3.
A rule; an instrument of wood or metal with straight edges or sides, by which lines are drawn on paper, parchment or other substance. When a ruler has the lines of chords, tangents, sines, &c. it is called a plane scale.

Definition 2024


ruler

ruler

English

A ruler (measuring device).

Noun

ruler (plural rulers)

  1. A (usually rigid), flat, rectangular measuring or drawing device with graduations in units of measurement; a rule; a straightedge with markings; a measure.
  2. A person who rules or governs; a person who exercises dominion or controlling power over others.

Usage notes

In American English, the word "ruler" is often used specifically to refer to such a measuring device that is one foot (12 inches) long. Used in contrast with "yardstick" and "meter stick."

Synonyms

  • See Wikisaurus:ruler
  • (measuring instrument): rule

Hyponyms

  • See Wikisaurus:ruler

Translations

Verb

ruler (third-person singular simple present rulers, present participle rulering, simple past and past participle rulered)

  1. (transitive) To beat with a ruler (as a traditional school punishment).

External links

  • ruler in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • ruler in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • ruler on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons