racking

Pluralrackings

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of rack. Use it after is, was or are, or as a noun for the act.

   I've been racking my brain all day, but I can't remember her name.

   Dad is racking the pool balls for another game.

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Another way to spell wracking. It describes pain or trouble that is very hard to bear.

   He had a racking cough that would not stop.

   The racking pain in her back made it hard to sleep.

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Taking beer, wine or cider off the sludge at the bottom so it clears and ferments less.

   The wine needs one more racking before we put it in bottles.

   Racking takes patience, because you must not stir up the sludge.

   Similardecanting

   Note
4. 4
   noununcountable

   A way of putting shingles on a roof in rows that go straight up, not across.

   The roofer used racking to finish the small shed roof quickly.

   Our neighbor asked the crew not to use racking on her new roof.

   Note
5. 5
   noununcountable

   Thin twisted cord that sailors use to bind ropes together.

   The sailor tied the two ropes together with a piece of racking.

   There is a ball of racking at the bottom of the sea chest.

   Note

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