I. kəˈri(ə)r, -iə noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle French carrière, from Old Provençal carriera street, from Medieval Latin carraria road for vehicles, from Latin carrus wheeled vehicle — more at car
1.
a. : course , passage
the sun's career across the sky
the career of armed steeds — P.B.Shelley
b. : speed : full speed or exercise of activity — used especially in the phrase in full career or in the full career
he was now in the full career of conquest — T.B.Macaulay
2.
a. of a horse : a short gallop or run at full or great speed — used especially in the phrase to pass career or to pass a career
b. : charge : an encounter especially in a tournament
c. : the way or route over which one passes
3. : a course of continued progress (as in the life of a person or nation) : a field for or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement especiallyin public, professional, or business life
Washington's career as a soldier
careers open to educated men
4. : a profession for which one undergoes special training and which is undertaken as a permanent calling
a career diplomat
ambassadorships were … treated as career posts — Wall Street Journal
: an occupation or profession engaged in as a lifework
career girl
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to make a short gallop : charge
b. : to turn to one side and another in running : prance , caracole
2.
a. : to go, drive, or run at top speed especially in a headlong or reckless manner
sightseers had gathered in clumps to watch the cars careering homeward — James Joyce
mobs careering through the streets — Kenneth Roberts
b. : to go or run rapidly with veering or sidelong rocking
transitive verb
: to cause (as a horse) to career
Synonyms: see run