Ranch
/ræntʃ/
Definitions
2 meaningsA large farm, especially one used for raising livestock.
/ræntʃ/
A large farm, especially one used for raising cattle, horses, or sheep.
They own a large ranch in Montana where they raise cattle.
💡 Simply: Imagine a huge farm where they have lots of cows, horses, or sheep. That's a ranch! It's where cowboys might live and work, taking care of the animals. Picture a big open space with a big house and lots of animals roaming around – that is a ranch.
👶 For kids: A ranch is a big farm where people raise animals like cows and horses.
More Examples
The family spent their summer vacation working on a horse ranch.
The sprawling ranch included hundreds of acres of pastureland.
How It's Used
"The cowboys worked hard on the vast cattle ranch."
"He inherited the family ranch and expanded its operations."
To operate or manage a ranch, especially for raising livestock.
/ræntʃ/
To manage or operate a ranch.
His family has ranched in the valley for generations.
💡 Simply: To 'ranch' means to run a ranch! It's like being the boss of a big farm that takes care of animals. So, if someone is ranching cattle, they are taking care of all the cows on the ranch – feeding them, making sure they are healthy, and so on.
👶 For kids: To ranch means to take care of a ranch and the animals there.
More Examples
They decided to ranch in the high desert.
The family ranched the property for over a century.
How It's Used
"They ranch cattle in the open plains."
"He ranches sheep and sells the wool."
Idioms & expressions
ranch dressing
A popular creamy salad dressing.
"I'd like a salad with ranch dressing, please."
From Spanish *rancho*, meaning "small farm" or "camp," originating from the verb *ranchar* (to lodge). The term was adopted into English during the 19th century, especially in the American West.
The term *ranch* gained prominence in the 19th century as the American West was settled and vast areas of land were dedicated to livestock farming.
Memory tip
Think of a big house with a *ranch* full of animals – that's a ranch!