/ rʌʃ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
MOVE FAST
1.
to move or to do sth with great speed, often too fast :
[ v , usually + adv. / prep. ]
We've got plenty of time; there's no need to rush.
the sound of rushing water
Don't rush off, I haven't finished.
I've been rushing around all day trying to get everything done.
People rushed to buy shares in the company.
[ vn ]
We had to rush our meal.
TAKE / SEND QUICKLY
2.
to transport or send sb/sth somewhere with great speed :
[ vn + adv. / prep. ]
Ambulances rushed the injured to the hospital.
Relief supplies were rushed in.
[also vnn ]
DO STH TOO QUICKLY
3.
rush (sb) (into sth / into doing sth) to do sth or to make sb do sth without thinking about it carefully :
[ v ]
We don't want to rush into having a baby.
[ vn ]
Don't rush me. I need time to think about it.
I'm not going to be rushed into anything.
ATTACK
4.
[ vn ] to try to attack or capture sb/sth suddenly :
A group of prisoners rushed an officer and managed to break out.
Fans rushed the stage after the concert.
IN AMERICAN FOOTBALL
5.
[ vn ] ( NAmE ) to run into sb who has the ball
6.
[ v ] ( NAmE ) to move forward and gain ground by carrying the ball and not passing it
IN AMERICAN COLLEGES
7.
[ vn ] ( NAmE ) to give a lot of attention to sb, especially to a student because you want them to join your fraternity or sorority :
He is being rushed by Sigma Nu.
•
IDIOMS
see fool noun , foot noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- rush sth out
- rush sth through | rush sth through sth
■ noun
FAST MOVEMENT
1.
[ sing. ] a sudden strong movement :
Shoppers made a rush for the exits.
She was trampled in the rush to get out.
They listened to the rush of the sea below.
The door blew open, letting in a rush of cold air.
He had a rush of blood to the head and punched the man.
HURRY
2.
[ sing. , U ] a situation in which you are in a hurry and need to do things quickly :
I can't stop—I'm in a rush .
What's the rush?
'I'll let you have the book back tomorrow.' ' There's no rush .'
The words came out in a rush .
a rush job (= one that has been done quickly)
BUSY SITUATION
3.
[ sing. ] a situation in which people are very busy and there is a lot of activity :
The evening rush was just starting.
the Christmas rush
OF FEELING
4.
[ sing. ] rush (of sth) a sudden strong emotion or sign of strong emotion :
a sudden rush of excitement / fear / anger
5.
[ sing. ] a sudden feeling of extreme pleasure or excitement :
Parachuting will give you the rush of a lifetime.
Users of the drug report experiencing a rush that lasts several minutes.
SUDDEN DEMAND
6.
[ sing. ] rush (on / for sth) a sudden large demand for goods, etc. :
There's been a rush on umbrellas this week.
—see also gold rush
PLANT
7.
[ C , usually pl. ] a tall plant like grass that grows near water. Its long thin stems can be dried and used for making baskets , the seats of chairs, etc. :
rush matting
OF FILM / MOVIE
8.
rushes [ pl. ] ( technical ) the first prints of a film / movie before they have been edited
IN AMERICAN FOOTBALL
9.
[ C ] an occasion when a player or players run towards a player on the other team who has the ball :
There was a rush on the quarterback.
10.
[ C ] an occasion when a player runs forward with the ball :
Johnson carried the ball an average of 6 yards per rush.
IN AMERICAN COLLEGES
11.
[ sing. ] ( NAmE ) the time when parties are held for students who want to join a fraternity or sorority :
rush week
a rush party
•
IDIOMS
see bum noun
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 6 and noun senses 8 to 10 verb late Middle English : from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French ruser drive back, an early sense of the word in English , perhaps based on Latin rursus backwards.
noun sense 7 Old English risc , rysc , of Germanic origin.