ranch

Meaning

Noun

1. A large plot of land used for raising cattle, sheep or other livestock.
2. A small farm that cultivates vegetables and/or livestock, especially one in the Southwestern United States.
3. A house or property on a plot of ranch land.
4. Ranch dressing.

Verb

1. To operate a ranch; to engage in ranching.
2. To work on a ranch.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹɑːnt͡ʃ/

Etymology

Recorded since 1808, farm sense since 1831. From American Spanish rancho (“small farm, group of farm huts”), in Spanish originally “group of people who eat together”, from ranchear (“to lodge or station”), from Old French ranger (“install in position”), from rang (“row, line”) (cognate with English rank)