/ru:l ||; rul/noun1 [C] an official statement that tells you what you must or must not do in a particular situation or when playing a game 规则；条例；规定: to obey / break a rule 遵守／违反规则Do you know the rules of chess? 你知道下国际象棋的规则吗？It's against the rules to smoke in this area. 在这地方吸烟是违法的。The company have strict rules and regulations governing employees' dress. 公司对员工的服装有严格的规定。
2 [C] a piece of advice about what you should do in a particular situation 准则；重要原则: When you run a marathon, the golden rule is: don't start too fast. 参加马拉松比赛的时候，记住开头不要跑得太快。
3 [sing] what is usual 常规；惯常的事: Large families are the exception rather than the rule nowadays. 在现今的社会，大家庭已经不多见了。 As a general rule, women live longer than men. 女人通常比男人长寿。I don't read much as a rule. 一般来说我不大看书。
4 [C] (in a language) a description of what is usual or correct （语言的）规则，准则，规范: What is the rule for forming the past tense? 过去时的构成有什么规则？
5 [U] government; control 管治；统治；治理；控制: The country is under military rule. 该国现在由军人统治。
bend the rules→
BEND¹
a rule of thumb a simple piece of practical advice, not involving exact details or figures 简单而实用的建议；经验法则
work to rule to follow the rules of your job in a very strict way in order to cause delay, as a form of protest against your employer or your working conditions 照章办事，按章工作（以延误工作，以此作为对雇主或工作条件的一种抗议行动）
☞Look at work-to-rule. 参看work-to-rule。