rule

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior; "it was his rule to take a walk before breakfast"; "short haircuts were the regulation"

something regarded as a normative example; "the convention of not naming the main character"; "violence is the rule not the exception"; "his formula for impressing visitors"

prescribed guide for conduct or action

(linguistics) a rule describing (or prescribing) a linguistic practice

a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct; "their principles of composition characterized all their works"

the duration of a monarch's or government's power; "during the rule of Elizabeth"

dominance or power through legal authority; "France held undisputed dominion over vast areas of Africa"; "the rule of Caesar"

directions that define the way a game or sport is to be conducted; "he knew the rules of chess"

any one of a systematic body of regulations defining the way of life of members of a religious order; "the rule of St. Dominic"

a rule or law concerning a natural phenomenon or the function of a complex system; "the principle of the conservation of mass"; "the principle of jet propulsion"; "the right-hand rule for inductive fields"

(mathematics) a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems; "he determined the upper bound with Descartes' rule of signs"; "he gave us a general formula for attacking polynomials"

measuring stick consisting of a strip of wood or metal or plastic with a straight edge that is used for drawing straight lines and measuring lengths

exercise authority over; as of nations; "Who is governing the country now?"

decide with authority; "The King decreed that all firstborn males should be killed"

be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance; "Money reigns supreme here"; "Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood"

decide on and make a declaration about; "find someone guilty"

have an affinity with; of signs of the zodiac

mark or draw with a ruler; "rule the margins"

keep in check; "rule one's temper"