ranch
UK[rɑːntʃ]US[ræntʃ]
n
A large farm, especially in North America or Australia, where cattle or other animals are bred and raised.
n
A style of house that is all on one level, with a low-pitched roof and a long, narrow shape.
Etymology
The word 'ranch' entered English in the early 19th century from American Spanish 'rancho', which initially meant a group of people who eat together, and later a small farm or hut. This Spanish term is believed to derive from the Old French 'ranger', meaning 'to put in a row, to arrange', which itself comes from 'rang' (rank, row). The semantic journey moved from the concept of a group or settlement to specifically denote a large tract of land for raising livestock, particularly in the context of the American West. The architectural sense of a 'ranch house' developed in the mid-20th century, evoking the sprawling, single-story style associated with rural ranch estates.
Analysis
The word 'ranch' is a simplex loanword from Spanish. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller morphemes using its current English spelling.
Examples
He grew up on a cattle ranch in Texas.
They bought a ten-acre ranch and started raising horses.
The suburban neighborhood was filled with classic 1950s ranch-style homes.