n (1)规定(则、章)(regulation or order that guides behaviour)[C][N+that(should)]：the～s of chess/a ball game/the game/the library/the road 下棋/打球/游戏/图书馆/交通规则;school/play～s 校规/比赛规则;a set～固定规则;follow/obey/break～s 遵照/服从/违反规定(章程);It is against the～s to kick the ball in basketball. 在篮球比赛中踢球是犯规的。It is a school～that all boys must/should wear school caps. 学校规定男孩子必须/一定要戴校帽。～s and regulations 规章制度;〖同〗regulation，order，law;

(2)常规，习惯，通例(what usually happens or is done;a general principle;a general idea to guide one's actions)[C，常sing]：make a～of rising early/eating an orange a day 养成早起/每天吃一个橘子的习惯;make it a～(never) to go to bed before eleven o'clock/be late for an appointment 养成晚上11点以前(不)上床睡觉/约会(不)迟到的习惯;make a morning swimming～养成早晨游泳的习惯;the～for spelling/pronunciation 拼写/发音规则;observe the classic/ordinary～遵照传统的/一般的惯例;There is exception to every～. 每个规律都有例外。Long hair is the～among the boys in our town. 我们镇上的男孩子习惯留长发。 Rainy weather is the～here during May. 5月这里总是多雨的天气。His～is to do morning exercises every day. 他习惯每天做早操。〖同〗practice，habit，routine，course;

(3)统治，支配，控制(control or government;time during which this lasts)[U]：(under/during)the～of Romans/Caesar(在)罗马人/恺撒的统治(下/期间);under foreign/colonial～在外国/殖民统治下;His～lasted 100 days. 他统治了100天。obtain the～of a country 掌握一个国家的统治权;the～of law 法治;majority/mob～多数党统治/暴民统治;〖同〗control，administration，domination;

(4)(刻度)尺(marked strip of wood，metal，etc for measuring)[C](fml)：a carpenter's～木匠用的尺;measure desks with a～用尺量桌子;a two-foot～一把两英尺长的尺子;〖同〗ruler;

as a (general) rule 一般说来，通常(fml)：As a～Mr Kane likes to be alone and undisturbed while reading. 一般说来，奎因先生读书时喜欢独自一人不受打扰。

a rule of thumb 凭感觉，靠经验：Some chefs cook by a～of thumb. 有些厨师烹调靠经验。

work to rule 故意借遵守规程而放慢生产进度：Train services were severely disrupted when the train drivers began working to～. 火车司机开始消极怠工后，铁路的服务受到严重的影响。

v (1)统治(have political control or authority over)[I，I+prep(over)，T+n]：～(the country) for 64 years 统治(这个国家)达64年;The king～d (his people) wisely. 这个国王英明地统治着(他的臣民)。～over a country/an empire 统治一个国家/帝国;Silence/Chaos～s in the assembly.(fig)会上鸦雀无声/一片混乱。〖同〗administer，control，dominate，prevail;

(2)支配，控制，操纵，影响(dominate，restrain or control)[T+n， 通常pass]：be～d by one's passions/one's feelings/one's hatred 受自己的激情/感情/仇恨的左右;allow one's passions to～one's judgement 让自己的激情影响了判断;Fear～d his action/her love life. 恐惧影响了他的行动/她的爱情生活。Let one's heart～one's head. 让感情超过理智。～one's husband/one's children 管着自己的丈夫/孩子们;

(3)裁决(定)(declare or decide authoritatively)[I+prep(against/on)，C+n+adj，C+n+to-inf，T+that]：The chairman～d against the proposal. 主席否决了那提议。The judge～d in favour of the plaintiff. 法官作出了有利于原告的判决。～on the matter 对此事作出裁决;～the resolution/the motion out of order 判决那个决定/动议不合程序;The jury～d (that) sb (was) innocent of all charges. 陪审团裁定某人无罪。～the action to be illegal 判决那种行为不合法;The Supreme Court/The judge～d that they were entitled to $17.5 million for their land. 最高法院/法官裁决他们有权获得1750万美元的土地费。〖同〗 decide，judge;

(4)画线(mark(paper or other surface)with straight，parallel lines;draw(a line )with a rule)[T+n]：～a margin/a line(across the page)/the paper/boxes(on the page for a graph) 画线留出边/(横贯这页)画条直线/在纸上画线/(在这页上)画几个方框(留作图解);

rule the roost 当家，作主，称雄：Jim always wants to～the roost. 吉姆总想发号施令。

rule with a rod of iron/with an iron hand 实行铁腕统治：“How does he～his department?” “With a rod of iron.” “他怎么管理他的部门?”“靠铁手腕。”

rule off (v adv)画线分开(vt)：He～d the figures off from the rest. 他画线把这些数字同其他数字分开。

rule out (v adv)排除，不考虑(vt)：The doctor took X-rays to～out the chance of broken bones. 医生拍了X光片以排除骨折的可能性。The principal～d out dances on school nights. 校长不允许晚上在学校跳舞。

【辨异】rule与command、govern和manage的区别见COMMAND。