A rule stating that population lineages tend to increase in body size over evolutionary time.

(ethics) A form of utilitarianism that says an action is right as it conforms to a rule that leads to the greatest good.

(rail transport) The steepest uphill gradient in one direction on a section of railway line, which determines the load that can be pulled by one locomotive over that section, according to the power rating of the locomotive. A typical ruling gradient could be 1:50 (2%). The ruling gradient can differ in the other direction on the same section.

plural of ruling gradient

The recommendation that a person should drink eight servings of eight ounces of water each day.

(law) The absence of rule of law in which one person, or a group of persons, rules arbitrarily.

An empirical rule for predicting the favoured alkene product(s) in elimination reactions. The alkene formed in greatest amount is the one that corresponds to removal of the hydrogen from the β-carbon having the fewest hydrogen substituents.

(politics) Synonym of divide and conquer

(law) A legal doctrine that prevents a murderer from realizing any inheritance from their victim, in effect in most jurisdictions.

(idiomatic, Britain, informal) To be popularly accepted, or supported by the general majority of people.