1. a classification or ranking of someone or something based on a comparative assessment of their quality, standard, or performance: "the hotel regained its five-star rating"
▪ the estimated audience size of a particular television or radio program: "the soap's ratings have recently picked up"
▪ the value of a property or condition that is claimed to be standard, optimal, or limiting for a substance, material, or item of equipment: "fuel with a low octane rating"
▪ any of the classes into which racing yachts are assigned according to dimensions.