Here is what the dictionary says, for what it is worth:
Main Entry: ranch
Pronunciation: 'ranch
Function: noun
Etymology: Mexican Spanish rancho small ranch, from Spanish, camp, hut & Spanish dialect, small farm, from Old Spanish ranchearse to take up quarters, from Middle French se ranger to take up a position, from ranger to set in a row -- more at RANGE
1 : a large farm for raising horses, beef cattle, or sheep
2 : a farm or area devoted to a particular specialty
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farm
14 entries found for farm. The first 10 are listed below.
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farm[1,noun]farm[2,verb]buy[1,verb]collective farmdry farmingfarm outfat farmfish farmfunny farmpoor farm
Main Entry: 1farm
Pronunciation: 'färm
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English ferme rent, lease, from Old French, lease, from fermer to fix, make a contract, from Latin firmare to make firm, from firmus firm
1 obsolete : a sum or due fixed in amount and payable at fixed intervals
2 : a letting out of revenues or taxes for a fixed sum to one authorized to collect and retain them
3 : a district or division of a country leased out for the collection of government revenues
4 : a tract of land devoted to agricultural purposes
5 a : a plot of land devoted to the raising of animals and especially domestic livestock b : a tract of water reserved for the artificial cultivation of some aquatic life form
6 : a minor-league team (as in baseball) associated with a major-league team as a subsidiary
7 : an area containing a number of similar structures (as radio antennas or storage tanks)