ranch

[ræntʃ]

Origin

From Mexican Spanish rancho meaning "small farm" or "group of people who eat together," originally from Spanish meaning "mess-room, group of people who eat together."

Meanings

1. (noun) A large farm, especially in the western US and Canada, where cattle or horses are raised

   • They own a cattle ranch in Texas.
   • The movie was filmed on a horse ranch in Montana.

2. (verb) To raise livestock on a ranch; to work or manage a ranch

   • He's been ranching in Wyoming for over 20 years.
   • His family has ranched this land for generations.

3. (noun) A style of house design characterized by a single-story layout with an open floor plan

   • They bought a ranch-style house in the suburbs.

Related Words

• rancher (n): person who owns or works on a ranch
• ranching (n): the activity or business of running a ranch
• ranchland (n): land suitable for ranching
• ranch hand (n): a person who works on a ranch

Synonyms

• farm
• homestead
• spread (informal)
• range

Memory Tricks

1. Think "Raising ANimals and CHattle" = RANCH
2. Picture a cowboy on horseback managing vast grasslands with cattle
3. Remember that ranch houses are like cattle ranches: spread out on one level

Common Collocations

• cattle ranch
• horse ranch
• ranch dressing
• ranch house
• ranch style