Meaning of “rein” in the English Dictionary

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"rein" in English

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reinnoun [ C usually plural ]

uk ​ /reɪn/ us ​ /reɪn/

› a long, thin piece of material, especially leather, that helps you to control and direct a horse:

You pull on both reins to stop or slow a horse, but only the left rein to turn left.

› UK a strap that is put around a small child's body or wrist and held at the other end by an adult so that the adult can stop the child running away:

I always put my son on reins when we go shopping.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Idiom(s)

free rein
keep a tight rein on sb/sth
take over/up the reins

(Definition of “rein” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"rein" in American English

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reinnoun [ C usually pl ]

us ​ /reɪn/

› a long thin piece of material, esp. leather, used to control a horse

(Definition of “rein” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

"rein" in Business English

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reinnoun

uk ​ /reɪn/ us ​
the reins [ plural ]

› power and control of a business or other activity:

These are the councillors who hold the reins of power.
He handed the reins to his successor.
I am retiring, and someone else can take over the reins.
free rein

› the freedom to do what you want to do:

have free rein We were told we had free rein on questions of design.
give sb/sth free rein (to do sth) She was given free rein to make all the changes she wanted.
give/allow sth full rein also give/allow full rein to sth

› to allow something to happen freely and completely:

This is a post which will give your talents full rein.
It's a task that requires you to allow full rein to your imagination.
keep a tight rein on sth

› to control something very carefully:

We need to keep a tight rein on the advertising budget.

(Definition of “rein” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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