1) a rod or straight piece of rounded wood to which any thing is
    fastened to keep it straight
    1a) used for various purposes
        1a1) a measuring rod, rule
        1a2) a carpenter's line or measuring tape
        1a3) the measure of a leap, as in the Olympic games
 2) a definitely bounded or fixed space within the limits of which one's
    power of influence is confined
    2a) the province assigned one
    2b) one's sphere of activity
 3) metaph. any rule or standard, a principle or law of investigating,
    judging, living, acting