rule

noun, verb

of activity / game 1 [C] a statement of what may, must or must not be done in a particular situation or when playing a game: to follow / obey / observe the rules * It's against all rules and regulations. * to break a rule (= not follow it) * This explains the rules under which the library operates. * Without unwritten rules civilized life would be impossible. * Normal competition rules apply. * She laid down strict rules for her tenants including prompt payment of rent. seealsoGROUNDRULE advice 2 [C] a statement of what you are advised to do in a particular situation: There are no hard and fast rules for planning healthy meals. * The first rule is to make eye contact with your interviewer. seealsoGOLDENRULE habit / normally true 3 [C,usually sing.] a habit; the normal state of things; what is true in most cases: He makes it a rule never to borrow money. * I go to bed early as a rule. * Cold winters here are the exception rather than the rule (= are rare). * As a general rule vegetable oils are better for you than animal fats. of system 4 [C] a statement of what is possible according to a particular system, for example the grammar of a language: the rules of grammar government / control 5 [U] the government of a country or control of a group of people by a particular person, group or system: under Communist / colonial British / civilian / military rule * majority rule (= government by the political party that most people have voted for) * The 1972 act imposed direct rule from Westminster. seealsoHOMERULE measuring tool 6 [C] a measuring instrument with a straight edge seealsoSLIDERULE IDIOMS bend / stretch the rules to change the rules to suit a particular person or situation play by sb's (own) rules if sb plays by their own rules or makes other people play by their rules, they set the conditions for doing business or having a relationship play by the rules to deal fairly and honestly with people the rules of the game the standards of behaviour that most people accept or that actually operate in a particular area of life or business the rule of law the condition in which all members of society, including its rulers, accept the authority of the law: Democracy and the rule of law are yet to be firmly established in the country. a rule of thumb a practical method of doing or measuring sth, usually based on past experience rather than on exact measurement: As a rule of thumb, you should cook a chicken for 20 minutes for each pound of weight. work to rule to follow the rules of your job in a very strict way in order to cause delay, as a form of protest against your employer or your working conditions seealsoWORK-TO-RULE moreatEXCEPTION