/ reɪs; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
COMPETITION
1.
[ C ] race (between A and B) | race (against sb) a competition between people, animals, vehicles, etc. to see which one is the faster or fastest :
a race between the two best runners of the club
Who won the race ?
He's already in training for the big race against Bailey.
Their horse came third in the race last year.
a boat / horse / road, etc. race
a five-kilometre race
Shall we have a race to the end of the beach?
—see also drag race , horse race
2.
[ sing. ] race (for sth / to do sth) a situation in which a number of people, groups, organizations, etc. are competing, especially for political power or to achieve sth first :
the race for the presidency
The race is on (= has begun) to find a cure for the disease.
—see also rat race
FOR HORSES
3.
the races [ pl. ] a series of horse races that happen at one place on a particular day :
to go to the races
PEOPLE
4.
[ C , U ] one of the main groups that humans can be divided into according to their physical differences, for example the colour of their skin :
the Caucasian / Mongolian, etc. race
people of mixed race
This custom is found in people of all races throughout the world.
legislation against discrimination on the grounds of race or sex
5.
[ C ] a group of people who share the same language, history, culture, etc. :
the Nordic races
He admired Canadians as a hardy and determined race.
—see also human race
ANIMALS / PLANTS
6.
[ C ] a breed or type of animal or plant :
a race of cattle
•
IDIOMS
- a race against time / the clock
—more at horse noun
■ verb
COMPETE
1.
race (against) sb/sth to compete against sb/sth to see who can go faster or the fastest, do sth first, etc.; to take part in a race or races :
[ v ]
Who will he be racing against in the next round?
They raced to a thrilling victory in the relay.
She'll be racing for the senior team next year.
[ vn ]
We raced each other back to the car.
[ v to inf ]
Television companies are racing to be the first to screen his life story.
2.
[ vn ] to make an animal or a vehicle compete in a race :
to race dogs / horses / pigeons
to race motorbikes
MOVE FAST
3.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to move very fast; to move sb/sth very fast :
[ v ]
He raced up the stairs.
The days seemed to race past.
[ vn ]
The injured man was raced to the hospital.
She raced her car through the narrow streets of the town.
OF HEART / MIND / THOUGHTS
4.
[ v ] to function very quickly because you are afraid, excited, etc. :
My mind raced as I tried to work out what was happening.
She took a deep breath to calm her racing pulse.
OF ENGINE
5.
[ v ] to run too fast :
The truck came to rest against a tree, its engine racing.
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 3 and verb late Old English , from Old Norse rás current. It was originally a northern English word with the sense rapid forward movement , which gave rise to the senses contest of speed (early 16th cent.) and channel, path . The verb dates from the late 15th cent.
noun senses 4 to 6 early 16th cent. (denoting a group with common features): via French from Italian razza , of unknown ultimate origin.