Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rate \Rate\, n. [OF., fr. L. rata (sc. pars), fr. ratus
   reckoned, fixed by calculation, p. p. of reri to reckon, to
   calculate. Cf. {Reason}.]
   1. Established portion or measure; fixed allowance.

            The one right feeble through the evil rate, Of food
            which in her duress she had found.    --Spenser.

   2. That which is established as a measure or criterion;
      degree; standard; rank; proportion; ratio; as, a slow rate
      of movement; rate of interest is the ratio of the interest
      to the principal, per annum.

            Heretofore the rate and standard of wit was
            different from what it is nowadays.   --South.

            In this did his holiness and godliness appear above
            the rate and pitch of other men's, in that he was so
            . . . merciful.                       --Calamy.

            Many of the horse could not march at that rate, nor
            come up soon enough.                  --Clarendon.

   3. Variation; prise fixed with relation to a standard; cost;
      charge; as, high or low rates of transportation.

            They come at dear rates from Japan.   --Locke.

   4. A tax or sum assessed by authority on property for public
      use, according to its income or value; esp., in England, a
      local tax; as, parish rates; town rates.

   5. Order; arrangement. [Obs.]

            Thus sat they all around in seemly rate. --Spenser.

   6. Ratification; approval. [R.] --Chapman.

   7. (Horol.) The gain or loss of a timepiece in a unit of
      time; as, daily rate; hourly rate; etc.

   8. (Naut.)
      (a) The order or class to which a war vessel belongs,
          determined according to its size, armament, etc.; as,
          first rate, second rate, etc.
      (b) The class of a merchant vessel for marine insurance,
          determined by its relative safety as a risk, as A1,
          A2, etc.

Rate \Rate\, v. t. & i. [Perh. fr. E. rate, v. t., to value at a
   certain rate, to estimate, but more prob. fr. Sw. rata to
   find fault, to blame, to despise, to hold cheap; cf. Icel.
   hrat refuse, hrati rubbish.]
   To chide with vehemence; to scold; to censure violently.
   --Spencer.

         Go, rate thy minions, proud, insulting boy! --Shak.

         Conscience is a check to beginners in sin, reclaiming
         them from it, and rating them for it.    --Barrow.

Rate \Rate\, v. i.
   1. To be set or considered in a class; to have rank; as, the
      ship rates as a ship of the line.

   2. To make an estimate.

Rate \Rate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Rated}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Rating}.]
   1. To set a certain estimate on; to value at a certain price
      or degree.

            To rate a man by the nature of his companions is a
            rule frequent indeed, but not infallible. --South.

            You seem not high enough your joys to rate.
                                                  --Dryden.

   2. To assess for the payment of a rate or tax.

   3. To settle the relative scale, rank, position, amount,
      value, or quality of; as, to rate a ship; to rate a
      seaman; to rate a pension.

   4. To ratify. [Obs.] ``To rate the truce.'' --Chapman.

   {To rate a chronometer}, to ascertain the exact rate of its
      gain or loss as compared with true time, so as to make an
      allowance or computation depended thereon.

   Syn: To value; appraise; estimate; reckon.

Source : WordNet®

rate
     n 1: amount of a charge or payment relative to some basis; "a
          10-minute phone call at that rate would cost $5" [syn: {charge
          per unit}]
     2: a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit; "they
        traveled at a rate of 55 miles per hour"; "the rate of
        change was faster than expected"
     3: the relative speed of progress or change; "he lived at a
        fast pace"; "he works at a great rate"; "the pace of
        events accelerated" [syn: {pace}]

rate
     v 1: assign a rank or rating to; "how would you rank these
          students?"; "The restaurant is rated highly in the food
          guide" [syn: {rank}, {range}, {order}, {grade}, {place}]
     2: be worthy of or have a certain rating; "This bond rates
        highly"
     3: estimate the value of; "How would you rate his chances to
        become President?"; "Gold was rated highly among the
        Romans" [syn: {value}]