/ru:l; rul/
n
1 [C] statement of what can, should or must be done in certain circumstances or when playing a game 规则; 规章; 规定; 条例
*The rule is that someone must be on duty at all times. 按照规定, 任何时候均需有人值班.
* the rules of the game 游戏规则
* rules and regulations 规章制度.
2 [C usu sing 通常作单数] usual practice or habit; normal state of things 惯常的做法;习惯
*My rule is to get up at seven every day. 我习惯每天七点起床.
* He makes it a rule never to borrow money.他无论如何也不向别人借钱.
* She made a rule of eating an apple a day. 她每天一定要吃一个苹果.
* Cold winters here are the exception rather than the rule, ie are comparatively rare. 这里冬天很少有冷的时候.
3 [U] authority; government 统治; 管理
*the rule of law 法治
* majority rule 多数裁定原则
* a country formerly under French rule 以前由法国统治的国家
* mob rule, ie the state that exists when a mob takes control 暴民统治.
4 [C] straight measuring device, often jointed, used by carpenters, etc （木工等用的）尺, （常指）摺尺.
5 [C] (usu straight) line drawn by hand or printed （通常指直的）线条（手画的或印刷的）.
6 (idm 习语) as a (general) `rule (fml 文) in most cases; usually 在多数情况下; 通常
*As a rule I'm home by six. 我通常六点钟到家. bend the rules => bend1. the exception proves the rule => exception. a rule of `thumb rough practical method of assessing or measuring sth, usu based on past experience rather than on exact measurement, etc (and therefore not completely reliable in every case or in every detail) （对事物）粗略但实用的估计方法（通常指凭经验而不作精确的计量等, 故并非时时处处均可靠）
*As a rule of thumb, you should cook a chicken for
20 minutes for each pound that it weighs. 凭经验估计, 每磅鸡肉应烹调20分钟. rule(s) of the `road rules regulating the movement of vehicles, ships, etc when meeting or passing each other 交通规则. work to `rule follow the rules of one's occupation with excessive strictness in order to cause delay, as a form of industrial protest 照章工作（以严格遵守规章为名而行怠工之实的抗议形式）.

v
1 [I, Ipr, Tn] ~ (over sb/sth) govern (sb/sth); have authority (over) 统治（某人[某事物]）; 管理
*She once ruled over a vast empire. 她曾统治过一个版图辽阔的帝国.
* Charles I ruled (England) for eleven years. 查理一世统治了（英国）十一年.
2 [Tn usu passive 通常用于被动语态] have power or influence over (sb, sb's feelings, etc); dominate 控制或影响（某人、某人的感情等）; 支配; 操纵
*Don't allow yourself to be ruled by emotion. 不要感情用事.
* She let her heart rule her head, ie acted according to her emotions, rather than sensibly. 她感情超越了理智（以感情而不以理智支配行动）.
3 [Ipr, Tf, Cn.a, Cn.t] give a decision as a judge or as some other authority 作出裁决或裁定
*rule in favour of the plaintiff 判原告胜诉
* The chairman ruled that the question was out of order/ruled the speaker out of order. 主席裁定该问题不合议事规则[裁定该发言者违反了议事规则].
* The court ruled the action to be illegal. 法庭判定该项行动非法.
4 [Tn] draw (a line) using a ruler, etc; mark parallel lines on (writing-paper, etc) 用尺等画（线）; 在（书写纸等）上画平行线
*Do you want ruled paper or plain? 你要有格的纸还是白纸?
5 (idm 习语) rule the `roost be the dominant person in a group 为首; 主宰. rule (sb/sth) with a rod of `iron/with an iron hand govern (a group of people, a country, etc) very harshly 以高压手段[铁腕]统治（人群、国家等）.
6 (phr v) rule sth off (from sth) separate sth from everything else by drawing a line below it, round it, etc 在下面、周围等处画线将某部分隔开
*rule the photographs off from the text 画线把照片与文字隔开. rule sb/sth out (as sth) exclude sb/sth (as irrelevant, ineligible, etc) 排除某人[某事物]（因其无关、不合格等）
*That possibility can't be ruled out, ie It must continue to be considered. 不能排除这种可能性（有待继续研究）.
* He was ruled out as a possible candidate. 他已经没有可能成为候选人.

In proof theory, a structural rule is an inference rule that does not refer to any logical connective, but instead operates on the judgements or sequents directly. Structural rules often mimic intended meta-theoretic properties of the logic.