¦ noun
1. the area of variation between limits on a particular scale.
2. a set of different things of the same general type: a wide range of banking services.
3. the scope or extent of a person's or thing's abilities or capacity.
4. the distance within which a sense, detector, transmitter, etc. is effective.
the distance that can be covered by a vehicle or aircraft without refuelling.
the distance attained or attainable by a gun, projectile, etc.
the distance between a camera and the subject to be photographed.
5. a line or series of mountains or hills.
6. a large area of open land for grazing or hunting.
the area over which a plant or animal is distributed.
7. an area used as a testing ground for military equipment.
(also shooting range) an area with targets for shooting practice.
8. a large cooking stove with several burners or hotplates.
¦ verb
1. vary or extend between specified limits.
2. place or arrange in a row or rows or in a specified manner.
run or extend in a line in a particular direction.
Brit. Printing (with reference to type) align or be aligned at the ends of successive lines.
3. (range someone against or be ranged against) place someone or be placed in opposition to.
4. travel or wander over a wide area.
5. cover a wide number of different topics.
6. find the range of a target.
7. (with reference to a projectile) send or be sent a specified distance.
Origin
ME (in the sense 'line of people or animals'): from OFr. range 'row, rank', from rangier 'put in order', from rang 'rank'.