Racked

Racked is the past tense and past participle of the verb rack. It has several related but distinct meanings that appear in different contexts, from everyday storage to technical processes and figurative usage.

As a physical action, to rack something means to place, arrange, or store items on a rack or in a racked system. For example, bottles, tools, or dishes may be racked on shelves or in specialized racks. In many occupational settings, racking is a standard method for organizing and accessing equipment or goods efficiently.

In a medical or emotional sense, to rack can mean to cause or experience severe distress. Phrases such as racked with pain or racked by guilt describe intense suffering or torment, often extending beyond physical pain to psychological or moral strain.

In winemaking, racking refers to the process of transferring wine from one vessel to another to leave sediment behind. The wine that has been racked is transferred to clarify the liquid and reduce impurities. This step is typically repeated several times during aging.

In computing and industrial contexts, racking describes installing or mounting equipment in a rack, such as servers, networking gear, or other hardware. A device that is racked is secured within a rack frame to optimize space, cooling, and accessibility.

Racked can also appear in idiomatic forms related to accumulation, as in racking up points or achievements, where the meaning depends on the surrounding context.

See also: rack, racking.