range / rānj/ • n. 1. the area of variation between upper and lower limits on a particular scale: the cost is thought to be in the range of $1-5 million a day it's outside my price range. ∎  a set of different things of the same general type: the area offers a wide range of activities for the tourist. ∎  the scope of a person's knowledge or abilities: he gave some indication of his range. ∎  the compass of a person's voice or of a musical instrument: she was gifted with an incredible vocal range. ∎  the extent of time covered by something such as a forecast. See also long-range, short-range. ∎  the area or extent covered by or included in something: an introductory guide to the range of debate this issue has generated. ∎  Math. the set of values that a given function can take as its argument varies.2. the distance within which a person can see or hear: something lurked just beyond her range of vision. ∎  the maximum distance at which a radio transmission can be effectively received: planets within radio range of Earth. ∎  the distance that can be covered by a vehicle or aircraft without refueling: the vans have a range of 125 miles. ∎  the maximum distance to which a gun will shoot or over which a missile will travel: a duck came within range | these rockets have a range of 30 to 40 miles. ∎  the distance between a gun, missile, shot, or blow and its objective: a dog sidled up to them, stopping just out of range of a kick. ∎  the distance between a camera and the subject to be photographed. ∎ Surveying the horizontal direction and length of a survey line determined by at least two fixed points.3. a line or series of mountains or hills: the coastal ranges of the northwest. ∎  a series of townships extending north and south parallel to the principal meridian of a survey. ∎  Naut. a line defined by landmarks or beacons, used to locate something offshore, esp. a navigable channel or a hazard.4. a large area of open land for grazing or hunting. ∎  an area of land or sea used as a testing ground for military equipment. ∎  an open or enclosed area with targets for shooting practice. ∎  the area over which a thing, esp. a plant or animal, is distributed.5. an electric or gas stove with several burners and one or more ovens.6. Building a course of masonry extending from end to end at one height. ∎  a row of buildings.7. archaic the direction or position in which something lies: the range of the hills and valleys is nearly from north to south.• v. 1. [intr.] vary or extend between specified limits: patients whose ages ranged from 13 to 25 years.2. [tr.] (usu. be ranged) place or arrange in a row or rows or in a specified order or manner: a table with half a dozen chairs ranged around it. ∎  [intr.] run or extend in a line in a particular direction: he regularly came to the benches that ranged along the path.3. [intr.] (of a person or animal) travel or wander over a wide area: patrols ranged thousands of miles deep into enemy territory | [tr.] nomadic tribesmen who ranged the windswept lands of the steppe. ∎  (of a person's eyes) pass from one person or thing to another: his eyes ranged over them. ∎  (of something written or spoken) cover or embrace a wide number of different topics: tutorials ranged over a variety of subjects.4. [intr.] obtain the range of a target by adjustment after firing past it or short of it, or by the use of radar or laser equipment: radar-type transmissions which appeared to be ranging on our convoys. ∎  (of a projectile) cover a specified distance. ∎  (of a gun) send a projectile over a specified distance.PHRASES: at a range of with a specified distance between one person or thing and another: a bat can detect a moth at a range of less than 8 feet.

range
1. of a binary relation R, a subset of S₁ × S₂, say. The subset of S₂ consisting of all elements to which some element of S₁ is related. If R is the relation “is the wife of” defined from men to women, the range of R is the set of married women.

Since a function is a special kind of relation, the range of f : X → Y

can be written as {y | y ∈ Y and y = f(x) for some x in X}

2. See measures of variation.

range
A. †rank, file XIII; row, line, series XVI;

B. moving about over an area; area itself XV; extent over which a missile ranges XVI; scope XVII.

C. form of fire-grate or cooking apparatus XV. — OF. range row, rank, file, f. ranger (f. rang RANK1). whence range vb. place in a line, arrange, dispose XIV, take up a position, extend XVI, move over a certain area XVI.
Hence ranger (arch.) gamekeeper XV; wanderer XVI; (esp. U.S.) pl. body of mounted troops XVIII.

range In radar terminology, the distance of radar propagation. In order to avoid interference between consecutive electromagnetic pulses, the interval between pulses must be adequate to allow the return of the previous pulse. Pulse frequency is inversely proportional to the range. Range is measured as either slant range or ground range.

Range

a series of things; a row, line, or file.

Examples : range of beehives, 1836; of books, 1863; of buildings, 1618; of campfires, 1677; of cliffs, 1859; of colours; of emotions; of hunters; of islands, 1748; of ladies, 1760; of morasses, 1791; of mountains, 1705; of oars, 1652; of outbuildings; of ovens; of pillars, 1511; of piles; of pupils, 1847; of soldiers; of trees, 1695; of vases, 1786.