ration Definition

ration
noun

1. A fixed allowance of food, clothing, petrol, etc, during a time of war or shortage.

Thesaurus: allowance, allotment, portion, dole, helping, measure, part, share, quota, provision.
2. A daily allowance of food, especially in the army.

Form: rations

verb rationed, rationing

1. To distribute or share it out (especially when it is in short supply), usually in fixed amounts.

Thesaurus: mete, allocate, apportion, allot, distribute, issue, dispense, supply, dole, budget, restrict, conserve, save.
Form: ration something out (often)
2. To restrict the supply of provisions to someone.

Derivative: rationing

Supplying rations.

Dividing into rations.

Etymology: 18c; 16c in obsolete sense ‘ratio': French, from Latin ratio reason.