I. sprint 1 /sprɪnt/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: From a Scandinavian language ]
1 . to run very fast for a short distance ⇨ jog
sprint along/across/up etc
Bill sprinted up the steps.
2 . to ride, swim etc very fast for a short distance
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ run to move very quickly, by moving your legs more quickly than when you walk:
My five-year-old son runs everywhere.
|
I go running twice a week.
▪ jog to run quite slowly for exercise over a long distance:
A few people were jogging in the park.
▪ race/dash to run somewhere as quickly as you can, especially because you have to do something urgently:
He dashed across the road to the police station.
|
We raced to the bus stop and got there just in time.
▪ sprint to run as fast as you can for a short distance:
I saw the runners sprinting past.
|
He sprinted up the stairs.
▪ tear to run very quickly and without really looking where you are going, because you are in a hurry:
He tore down the street and around the corner.
▪ charge to run quickly and with a lot of energy, so that you might knock down anyone or anything that gets in your way:
They all charged out of the school gates at 4 o'clock.
|
Dennis charged through the door into my office.
▪ take to your heels to start running away very quickly, especially to escape or because you are afraid:
The men took to their heels as soon as they saw the police.
▪ leg it British English informal to run away very quickly, in order to escape from someone or something:
I legged it before the cops came.
▪ lope especially literary to run easily with long steps – used especially about tall people with long legs:
John loped across the street to meet me.
II. sprint 2 BrE AmE noun
1 . [countable] a short race in which the runners, riders, swimmers etc move very fast over a short distance:
the 100-metre sprint
2 . [singular] a short period of running or moving very fast:
He made a desperate sprint for the train.