rack
UK: ræk | US: ræk
n. a framework or shelf for holding or storing things
n. a state of extreme distress or suffering
vt. to cause extreme physical or mental pain
vt. to place items on a rack for storage or display
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The word "rack" traces back to Middle Dutch rec (framework) and Old English hræc (stretch, torture device), reflecting its dual evolution in meaning. Originally denoting a stretching instrument (as in torture), it later generalized to any framework for holding objects. The semantic connection lies in the idea of "stretching" or "straining"—whether physically (torture) or structurally (shelf).
She placed the wine bottles on the rack to cool.
The prisoner endured the rack as a form of medieval punishment.
He was racked with guilt after the accident.
The bike rack outside the store was full.
Her mind was a rack of unanswered questions.