Rations

[rash-uh n, rey-shuh n] /ˈræʃ ən, ˈreɪ ʃən/

noun
1.
a fixed allowance of provisions or food, especially for soldiers or sailors or for civilians during a shortage:
a daily ration of meat and bread.
2.
an allotted amount:
They finally saved up enough gas rations for the trip.
3.
rations.

verb (used with object)
4.
to supply, apportion, or distribute as rations (often followed by out):
to ration out food to an army.
5.
to supply or provide with rations:
to ration an army with food.
6.
to restrict the consumption of (a commodity, food, etc.):
to ration meat during war.
7.
to restrict the consumption of (a consumer):
The civilian population was rationed while the war lasted.
/ˈræʃənz/
plural noun
1.
(sometimes sing) a fixed daily allowance of food, esp to military personnel or when supplies are limited See also iron rations
/ˈræʃən/
noun
1.

2.
a sufficient or adequate amount: you’ve had your ration of television for today
verb (transitive)
3.
(often foll by out) to distribute (provisions), esp to an army
4.
to restrict the distribution or consumption of (a commodity) by (people): the government has rationed sugar, sugar is short, so I’ll have to ration you
n.

1550, “reasoning,” later, “relation of one number to another” (1660s), then “fixed allowance of food” (1702, often rations, from French ration in this sense), from Latin rationem (nominative ratio) “a reckoning, calculation, proportion” (see ratio). The military pronunciation (rhymes with fashion) took over from the preferred civilian pronunciation (rhymes with nation) during World War I.
v.

“put (someone) on a fixed allowance,” 1859, from ration (n.); sense of “apportion in fixed amounts” is from 1870. Related: Rationed; rationing.

Related Terms

ground rations