1rank 
/ˈræŋk/ noun
plural ranks /ˈræŋk/ noun 1 a : a position in a society, organization, group, etc. [noncount] ▪ people of high rank and profession ▪ She's not concerned about rank or wealth. ▪ Unlike in chess, all the game pieces in checkers are of equal rank. [=value] [count] ▪ officers with the rank of captain ▪ He rose to the rank of partner in the law firm. ▪ He longed to join the upper social ranks. ▪ military ranks such as private, corporal, and sergeant ▪ He moved up/rose through the ranks to become vice president of the company. ▪ a photographer in the front rank [=an excellent photographer] ▪ a writer of the first rank [=an excellent writer]
b [noncount] : a high position in a society, organization, group, etc. — usually used after of ▪ Expensive cars are sometimes seen as a badge of rank. ▪ The guest lecturer is a novelist of rank [=of high regard; of esteem] who has won many prestigious awards. 2 ranks [plural] a : the people or things that belong to a particular organization or group
▪ A company spokesperson announced that the company will be decreasing its ranks by 200. [=laying off 200 employees] ▪ The organization's ranks have doubled in the past two years. ▪ The restaurant has made it to the city's front ranks. [=the restaurant is one of the best in the city] — often + of ▪ More older adults are choosing to join the ranks of college students. ▪ the growing/swelling ranks of vegetarians
b : the people in the army, navy, air force, etc., who are not officers
▪ The flu swept through the ranks, infecting almost every soldier. ▪ Several men were selected from the ranks. 3 [count] : a row of people or things
▪ The troops stood in ranks. ▪ Twelve soldiers stood in the front rank. — compare 5file 4 [count] Brit : taxi stand
b [noncount] : a high position in a society, organization, group, etc. — usually used after of ▪ Expensive cars are sometimes seen as a badge of rank. ▪ The guest lecturer is a novelist of rank [=of high regard; of esteem] who has won many prestigious awards.
▪ A company spokesperson announced that the company will be decreasing its ranks by 200. [=laying off 200 employees] ▪ The organization's ranks have doubled in the past two years. ▪ The restaurant has made it to the city's front ranks. [=the restaurant is one of the best in the city] — often + of ▪ More older adults are choosing to join the ranks of college students. ▪ the growing/swelling ranks of vegetarians
b : the people in the army, navy, air force, etc., who are not officers
▪ The flu swept through the ranks, infecting almost every soldier. ▪ Several men were selected from the ranks.
▪ The troops stood in ranks. ▪ Twelve soldiers stood in the front rank. — compare 5file
break ranks also break rank 1 : to step out of a line
▪ The soldier was disciplined for breaking ranks. 2 : to no longer agree with or support a person or group — often + with ▪ The senator decided to break ranks with others in his party and support the proposal. ▪ One scientist has broken ranks with her colleagues and questioned the research.
▪ The soldier was disciplined for breaking ranks.
close ranks
: to join together to support or protect someone or something that is in trouble
▪ The police officers closed ranks when their captain was being investigated for misconduct. ▪ The family closed ranks to protect one of their own.
▪ The police officers closed ranks when their captain was being investigated for misconduct. ▪ The family closed ranks to protect one of their own.
pull rank
: to use your high position in a society, organization, group, etc., to order someone to do something or to get special treatment or privileges
▪ He's their boss, but he doesn't like to pull rank (on them) if he can avoid it.
▪ He's their boss, but he doesn't like to pull rank (on them) if he can avoid it.
