ration
ration
/ˈræʃn/
1 countable a fixed amount of food, fuel, etc. that you are officially allowed to have when there is not enough for everyone to have as much as they want, for example during a war the weekly butter ration
a ration book/card/coupon (= allowing you to claim your ration of something)
Collocations
adjective
verb + ration
ration + noun
preposition
on a/the ration
ration of
2 rations plural a fixed amount of food given regularly to a soldier or to somebody who is in a place where there is not much food available We're on short rations (= allowed less than usual) until fresh supplies arrive.
Once these latest rations run out, the country will again face hunger and starvation.
3 singular ration (of something) an amount of something that is thought to be normal or fair As part of the diet, allow yourself a small daily ration of sugar.
I've had my ration of problems for one day—you deal with it!
I felt that my ration of luck was running out.
You've had your ration of chocolate for the day!
Word Origin
early 18th cent.: from French, from Latin ratio(n-) ‘reckoning, ratio’.