Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - rack

~1 n 1 a frame or shelf, usually with bars or hooks, for holding things on  (The dishes are on the plate rack. | a magazine rack)  (- see also luggage rack, roof­rack) 2 the rack a piece of equipment used in the past to make people suffer severe pain by stretching their bodies 3 on the rack suffering severe pain or anxiety 4 go to rack and ruin to gradually get into a very bad condition as a result of not being looked after  (The old farmhouse had gone to rack and ruin.) 5 AmE a three-sided frame used for arranging the balls at the start of a game of snooker1 or pool1 (3) 6 a rack of lamb/pork BrE a fairly large piece of meat from the side of an animal ~2 v 1 T usually passive to make someone suffer great mental or physical pain  (be racked by/with)  (She was racked by feelings of guilt. | He lay on the ground racked with pain.) 2 rack your brain (s) to think very hard or for a long time  (I really had to rack my brains to remember his name.) rack sth up phr v informal 1 AmE to gradually get points, votes etc, especially in a competition or election  (The team racked up enough points to win the NFL title.) 2 AmE to damage or ruin something  (That motorcycle accident really racked up his leg.) 3 to make the value, amount, or level of something go up  (High interest rates have racked up the pound.)