1 a measurement of the speed at which sth happens or the number of times sth happens or exists during a particular period 率；比率: The birth rate (= the number of children born each year) is falling. 出生率在下降。The population is increasing at the rate of less than 0.5% a year. 每年的人口增长率不到0.5%。an exchange rateof one pound to ten francs 一英镑兑十法郎的汇率

2 a fixed amount of money that sth costs or that sb is paid 费用；价格: The basic rate of pay is £10 an hour. 基本工资一小时10英镑。We offer special reduced rates for students. 我们给予学生特别优惠价。 ☞ Look at first-rate and second-rate. 参看first-rate及second-rate。

1 used when you are giving more exact information about sth （用于补充更确切的资料）: He said that they would be here by ten. At any rate, I think that's what he said. 他说过他们在十时到达这里。反正，我想他是这样说的。

2 whatever else might happen 无论如何；不管怎样: Well, that's one good piece of news at any rate. 好了，无论如何，那是个好消息。