ranch

noun

1. an establishment maintained for raising livestock under range conditions.
2. Chiefly Western U.S. and Canada. a large farm used primarily to raise one kind of crop or animal: a mink ranch.
3. a dude ranch.
4. the persons employed or living on a ranch.
5. ranch house.

verb (used without object)

6. to manage or work on a ranch.

noun

1. a large tract of land, esp one in North America, together with the necessary personnel, buildings, and equipment, for rearing livestock, esp cattle
2. 1. any large farm for the rearing of a particular kind of livestock or cropa mink ranch
   2. the buildings, land, etc, connected with it

verb

3. (intr) to manage or run a ranch
4. (tr) to raise (animals) on or as if on a ranch

n.

1808, “country house,” from American Spanish rancho “small farm, group of farm huts,” from Spanish rancho “mess-room,” originally, “group of people who eat together,” from ranchear “to lodge or station,” from Old French ranger “install in position,” from rang “row, line” (see rank (n.)).

Sense of “large stock-farm and herding establishment” is from 1831. Of houses, “single-story, split-level” (adj.) from 1950; as a noun from 1960. Ranch-house attested from 1862.

v.

1866, from ranch (n.). Related: Ranched; ranching.