rate1
• noun 1 a measure, quantity, or frequency measured against another quantity or measure: the crime rate. 2 the speed with which something moves, happens, or changes. 3 a fixed price paid or charged for something. 4 the amount of a charge or payment expressed as a percentage of some other amount, or as a basis of calculation. 5 (rates) (in the UK) a tax on commercial land and buildings paid to a local authority. • verb 1 assign a standard or value to (something) according to a particular scale. 2 consider to be of a certain quality or standard. 3 be worthy of; merit. 4 informal have a high opinion of. — PHRASES at any rate whatever happens or may have happened. at this rate if things continue in this way. — ORIGIN Latin rata, from pro rata parte ‘according to the proportional share’.
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