A ranch is a large farm where people raise animals, especially cattle or horses. On a cattle ranch, cowboys and ranchers work outdoors, moving herds across wide grasslands to find good grazing spots. They might ride horses, fix fences, and care for hundreds or even thousands of animals spread across miles of open land.

Ranches are most common in the American West, where vast spaces made it practical to let cattle roam freely. Many ranching traditions, from lassos to rodeos, have Spanish origins. While some ranches still operate the traditional way, others have adapted with modern technology like trucks and helicopters.

The word also describes a style of house: a ranch house is a long, low, single-story home that became popular in America in the 1950s. These houses spread out rather than up, often with rooms arranged in an L-shape.

You'll also hear ranch as a type of salad dressing: thick, creamy, and tangy. Ranch dressing was invented at a California guest ranch in the 1950s and became so popular that Americans now eat more ranch dressing than any other kind.