n.
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 a : an act or the action of running : continued rapid movement b : a quickened gallop c : a migration of fish (as up or down a river) especially to spawn also : such fish in the process of migration d : a running race <a mile run > e : a score made in baseball by a runner reaching home plate safely f : strength or ability to run g : a gain of a usually specified distance made on a running play in football <scored on a 25-yard run > also : a running play h : a sustained usually aggressive effort (as to win or obtain something) <making a run at the championship>
2 a chiefly Midland : CREEK 2 b : something that flows in the course of an operation or during a particular time <the first run of sap in sugar maples>
3 a : the stern of the underwater body of a ship from where it begins to curve or slope upward and inward b : the direction in which a vein of ore lies c : a direction of secondary or minor cleavage : GRAIN <the run of a mass of granite> d : a horizontal distance (as that covered by a flight of steps) e : general tendency or direction
4 : a continuous period or series especially of things of identical or similar sort <a run of bad luck>: as a : a rapid passage up or down a scale in vocal or instrumental music b : a number of rapid small dance steps executed in even tempo c : the act of making successively a number of successful shots or strokes also : the score thus made <a run of 20 in billiards> d : an unbroken course of performances or showings <a long run on Broadway> e : a set of consecutive measurements, readings, or observations f : persistent and heavy demands from depositors, creditors, or customers <a run on a bank> g : SEQUENCE 2B
5 : the quantity of work turned out in a continuous operation <a press run of 10,000 copies>
6 : the usual or normal kind, character, type, or group <the average run of students>
7 a : the distance covered in a period of continuous traveling or sailing b : a course or trip especially if mapped out and traveled with regularity c : a news reporter's regular territory : BEAT d : freedom of movement in or access to a place or area <has the run of the house>
8 a : the period during which a machine or plant is in continuous operation b : the use of machinery for a single set of processing procedures <a computer run >
9 a : a way, track, or path frequented by animals b : an enclosure for domestic animals where they may feed or exercise c Australian (1) : a large area of land used for grazing <a sheep run > (2) : RANCH , STATION < run -holder> d : an inclined passageway
10 a : an inclined course (as for skiing or bobsledding) b : a support (as a track, pipe, or trough) on which something runs
11 a : a ravel in a knitted fabric (as in hosiery) caused by the breaking of stitches b : a paint defect caused by excessive flow
12 plural but singular or plural in construction : DIARRHEA ― used with the
– run · less \ -l ə s \ adjective
– on the run
1 : in haste : without pausing <ate lunch on the run >
2 : in retreat : in flight (as from the law) <an escaped convict on the run >
– run for one's money : a serious challenge to one's supremacy <is expected to give the incumbent a good run for his money >