noun
ranch
RAHNCH
noun
1
A large farm, especially in the western United States, used for raising cattle, sheep, or horses.
"His grandfather ran a cattle ranch in Montana for forty years."
2
A single-storey house, especially one built in a style associated with American ranch homes.
"They bought a modest ranch on the edge of town."
verb
1
To run or work on a ranch, raising livestock.
"His family has ranched this land for three generations."
How to Use Ranch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large livestock farm, especially in the American West, or (as a verb) to run one.
Common pairings
cattle ranch
work on a ranch
ranch house
Word Forms
ranched past tense, ranches plural, ranches singular
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His grandfather ran a cattle _____ in Montana for forty years.
Etymology
From American Spanish rancho, "small farm" or "group of farm huts" — originally referring to a group of people who ate together.