an order, law or custom which guides or controls behaviour or action; a habit; authority; to govern (people, a country etc)
standard, principle of behavior
Cases of word usage
1) decided by personal opinion and not because of a rule or for a reason (arbitrary)
2) to find a way to get round (a law, rule etc) (circumvent)
3) a statement that defines a word, rule etc (definition)
4) the lands under the rule of a government, ruler etc (domain)
5) (of weather) bright; clear; not raining; very well; (to punish a person by asking for) a sum of money (to be) paid as a penalty for breaking a law or rule (fine)
6) any important rule of conduct (golden rule)
7) to rule (a country, city etc) (govern)
8) to break (a rule etc) (infringe)
9) a rule made by authority for the proper regulation of a community or society or for behaviour (law)
10) a short sentence or phrase used as a guide or rule of behaviour, as used by a school, club etc or expressed as a personal rule of conduct (motto)