ration

ra|tion¹ [ˈræʃən US ˈræ-, ˈreı-] n

[Date: 1700-1800; : French; Origin: Latin ratio; RATIO]

1.) [U and C]

a fixed amount of something that people are allowed to have when there is not enough, for example during a war

food/clothes/meat etc ration

▪ the weekly meat ration

▪ a coal ration of 4 kg a month

on ration

▪ Even wool was on ration in the war.

2.) rations [plural]

a fixed amount of food given to a soldier or member of a group

▪ emergency food rations

▪ The prisoners were queuing for their meagre rations (=small rations) .

▪ We were on short rations (=given a smaller amount than usual) .

3.) [singular]

an amount of something that you think is reasonable or normal

ration of

▪ holidaymakers who like a generous ration of open-air activity

ration ²

ration² v [T]

1.) [usually passive]

to control the supply of something because there is not enough

▪ Fuel was rationed during the war.

2.) to allow someone only a small amount of something

▪ the need to ration health care resources

▪ diets which ration fat

ration sb/sth to sth

▪ He rationed himself to 4 cigarettes a day.

▪ I try to ration the children's television viewing to an hour a day.