I. ˈrən verb
( ran ˈran, ˈraa(ə)n ; or nonstandard run ; run ; running ; runs )
Etymology: Middle English runnen, ronnen; in intransitive senses, alteration of rinnen, irnen, partly from Old English rinnan, iernan, partly from Old Norse rinna; akin to Old Saxon, Old High German, & Gothic rinnan to run; in transitive senses, alteration of rennen, ernen, partly from Old English ærnan, partly from Old Norse renna; akin to Old Saxon rennian to cause to run, Old High German rennen to cause to run, Gothic ur rannjan to cause to rise; causatives from the root of Old English rinnan, iernan; akin to Old English rīsan to rise — more at rise
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to go by moving the legs quickly : go faster than a walk ; specifically : to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step
b. of a horse : to move at a fast gallop as distinguished from a canter : move with each leg acting in turn as a propeller and supporter and all four legs being for an instant in the air under the body
c. : flee , retreat , escape
afraid to fight but ashamed to run
dropped his gun and ran
obliged to cut and run
d. : to make a bid in a card game in an effort to escape the consequences of a previous bid
refrained from doubling four spades for fear he would run to five clubs
— sometimes used with out
2.
a. : to go without restraint : move freely about at will
let his chickens run loose
liked to run barefoot in the summer
b. : to keep company : consort — used with with chiefly of male animals
a ram running with his ewes
c. : to sail before the wind in distinction from reaching or sailing close-hauled
d. : roam , rove , gad — usually used with about or around
spends his time running around nights and sleeping all day
caught cold running about with no overcoat
e. : to deviate from a correct path — used of a saw cut
3.
a. : to go rapidly or hurriedly : hasten
run and fetch the doctor
b. : to go in urgency or distress : resort
runs to his mother at every little difficulty
don't come running to me when you get in trouble
c. : to make a quick, easy, or casual trip or visit
running up to town every week or so
just ran over to borrow some sugar
4.
a. : to contend in a race
will be able to run tomorrow
also : to finish a race in a specified place
ran a poor third
b. : to enter into an election contest : become a candidate
I do not choose to run — Calvin Coolidge
5.
a. : to move on or as if on wheels : glide
the hoist runs on an overhead track
file drawers running on ball bearings
the tractor runs on an endless chain tread
b.
(1) : to roll forward rapidly or freely
the cue ball ran straight into the side pocket
(2) of a golf ball : to bound or roll along after touching the ground subsequent to the carry
ran some 10 yards onto the green
c. : to pass or slide freely along
rope runs through the pulley
d. : to ravel lengthwise owing to a dropped or broken stitch
stockings guaranteed not to run
6. : to sing or play a musical passage quickly
run up the scale
7.
a. : to go back and forth : ply
a ferry runs to the island each hour
b. of fish : to migrate or move in schools ; especially : to ascend a river to spawn
8.
a. : turn , rotate
a swiftly running grindstone
let the motor run until it warms up
b. : function , operate , work
an engine that runs on kerosine or gasoline
things are running smoothly at the office now
expense of keeping the old car running
9.
a. : to continue in force or operation : remain effective
the contract has two more years to run
six months on each charge, the sentences to run concurrently
b. : to accompany as a valid obligation or right
covenants the rights and liabilities of which pass to assignees run with the land
c. : to continue to accrue or become payable in an amount increasing with the passing of time
interest on the loan runs from last July 1st
10. : to pass from one state to another
run into trouble
run into debt
11.
a. : to flow rapidly
a brook running high with meltwater
or under pressure
someone left the hot water running
feelings were running high on both sides of the dispute
tide running out
b. : to change to a liquid state : melt , fuse
heat a pipe joint until the solder runs
the icing had begun to run
c. : to spread out, diffuse, or dissolve
colors guaranteed not to fade or run
the writing was blurred where the ink had run on the wet pages
d. : to discharge pus or serum
a running sore
e. dialect : curdle
f. of soil : to become fluid or pasty when wet
12.
a. : to develop rapidly in some specific direction ; especially : to throw out an elongated and often vining shoot of growth
the early squashes are beginning to run and flower
b. : to tend to produce or develop a specified quality or feature — usually used with to
they run to big noses in that family
this tree runs to quite tart fruit
13.
a. : to lie in or take a certain direction
the boundary line runs east from the stone
his action runs counter to prevailing practice
the printed matter on this page runs the short way of the page
a red thread runs through the cloth
b. : to lie or extend in relation to something
where the road runs close to the shore
a path runs along the ridge
the fence runs along two sides of the field
heating pipes ran overhead
c. : to go back : reach
a custom since the time that no man's mind runs to the contrary
born of a line running back to King Alfred
d. : to be in a certain form or expression
his letter runs as follows
or order of succession
the house numbers in this block run in odd numbers from 3 to 57
14.
a. : to occur intermittently and persistently : recur — usually used with through or in
a note of despair runs through the whole narrative
musical talent seems to run in his family
tune kept running in his head
thoughts and memories of home kept running through his mind
b. : to continue to be of a specified size or character or quality
peaches are running unusually large this year
profits were running high
c. : to continue at a certain rate or value
this ore runs as high as $200 to the ton
d. : to exist or occur in a continuous range of variation
guesses at his real age run from 39 to 45 or higher
e. : to play on a stage a number of successive days or nights
the piece ran for six months
15.
a. : to spread or pass quickly from point to point
chills ran up his spine
a whisper ran through the crowd
a shout ran down the line of soldiers
fire ran swiftly over the oily sea
b. : to be current : spread abroad : pass from mouth to mouth
the story runs that they have been secretly married for months
speculation ran rife on who the candidate would be
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause (an animal) to go at speed : ride or drive fast
b. : to bring to a specified condition by or as if by running
he almost ran himself to death
fie, now you run this humor out of breath — Shakespeare
c. : to go in pursuit of : hunt , chase
run a deer
the dog was caught running sheep and had to be shot
d. : to follow the trail of backwards : trace
ran the rumor to its source
e. : to enter, register, or enroll as a contestant in a race
ran the filly in the half mile
f. : to put forward as a candidate for office
ran him for governor
2.
a. : to drive (livestock) especially to a grazing place
run cattle to pasture
b. : to provide pasturage for (livestock)
land that will run three sheep to the acre
c. : to keep or maintain (livestock) on or as if on pasturage
run a few head of stock
run 2,000,000 chickens a year
d. : to put (a male animal) with females for breeding
flush the ram before running him with the ewes
3.
a. : to pass over, traverse, or cover by or as if by running
quick at fielding and running bases
the disease has run its course
her acting ran the whole range of emotions
b. : to accomplish or perform by or as if by running
ran a great race
running errands for a bank
c. : to flee from
ran the country after the robbery
d. : to slip through or past
run a blockade
run a guard
run a traffic signal
4.
a. : to cause to slip into or through : thrust
ran the spear through his body
ran a splinter into his toe
ran his hand into his pocket
b. : stitch ; especially : to sew with running stitches
run a basting to mark the waistline
run a line of stitching
c. : to cause to pass : lead
run a rope through a pulley
run a wire in from the antenna
d. : to cause to collide
ran his head into a post
e. : smuggle
5. : to cause to pass lightly or quickly over, along, or into something
ran his eye down the list
ran his fingers along the shelf
run your hand over the tabletop to see if the varnish is dry
ran his tongue over his parched lips
6.
a. : to cause or allow (as a vehicle, a vessel) to go in a specified manner or direction
ran the ship aground on a sandbar
ran his car off the road
b. : operate
run a lawn mower
run a taxi
c. : to carry on : manage , conduct
run a factory
run a travel bureau
the men who run things in this city
7.
a. : to be full of or drenched with : flow with
the streets ran blood
all the brooks ran gold — A.E.Housman
b. : contain , assay
tailing runs 2 percent zinc
8.
a. : to cause to move or flow in a specified way or into a specified position
run sheets through a wringer
run cards into a file
b. : fan 7b
9.
a. : to melt and cast in a mold
run bullets
b. : to make (a resin) soluble in oil by subjecting to thermal processing
c. : treat , process , refine
run oil in a still
d. : to pour into the cracks and joints of a pavement
run tar
or into a form
run concrete
e. : to apply (as paint) by flowing
run a wash
also : to cover (a surface) by flowing on
run a wall
f. : to form (a molding) with plaster
g. : to pass (starch slurry) down a run
10. : to make oneself liable to : expose oneself to : incur
ran the risk of discovery by lighting a fire
11. : to mark out : cause to be drawn
run a contour line in surveying land
run a line through the word to be deleted
12. : to permit (as charges, accounts, bills) to accumulate before settling
run an account at the grocery
13.
a. : to run off
a book to be run on lightweight paper
a job to be run 4-up
b. : to carry in a printed medium : print
every newspaper ran the story
run this advertisement for 3 days
c. : to use as a direct printing surface
you may stereotype these woodcuts but do not run them
14.
a. : to make (a series of counts) without a miss
run 19 in an inning in billiards
b. card games : to lead winning cards of (a suit) successively and usually until no more remain
15. : to make (a golf ball) roll foward after alighting
ran his ball past the cup
16. croquet : to play one's ball through (a wicket) or against (a stake)
Synonyms:
race , course , career : run is the general term in this set, indicating either a rapid or more-or-less normal movement or motion
a halfback running laterally
busses running on Elm Street
the watch had stopped running
race almost always indicates great speed or rapidity, often in or as though in urgent situations with freedom from normal inhibitions
he raced for a small dune and flung himself down behind it — Irwin Shaw
thoughts were under control no longer: they raced desperately — as she had once seen a dog race … running desperately and hopelessly from inescapable terror — Margery Sharp
course in this sense may indicate rapid or pulsating motion or activity, often following a definite or expected course or channel
reconnaissance aircraft coursed North Korea — New York Times
her hand became a closer prisoner. All at once an alarming delicious shudder went through her frame. From him to her it coursed — George Meredith
new life coursing through Europe's stagnant economic system — R.A.Billington
career is likely to indicate high speed with headlong impetus or, occas., with veering or rocking motion
careering through the salons on a bicycle — Time
blind historians careering on their juggernauts of theory — Times Literary Supplement
intoxicated cats careering through out houses — F.A.Swinnerton
•
- run across
- run after
- run against
- run at check
- run a temperature
- run cunning
- run division
- run down the latitude
- run false
- run foul of
- run free
- run heelway
- run in the blood
- run into
- run in with
- run mad
- run ragged
- run rings around
- run riot
- run scared
- run short
- run short of
- run the cards
- run to cover
- run to earth
- run to seed
- run track
- run upon
- run wild
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English rune, from runnen, ronnen to run — more at run I
1.
a. : an act or the action of running : continued and usually rapid movement
walked faster and faster finally breaking into a run
let the dogs out for a run
police arrived on the run
b. : a quickened gallop
c.
(1) : the act of migrating or ascending a river to spawn — used of fish
(2) : an assemblage or school of fishes that migrate or ascend a river to spawn
d. : a running race
a mile run
— distinguished from dash
e.
(1) : a score made in cricket each time the batsmen safely change ends after a hit or when the ball is in play — compare boundary , extra
(2) : a score made in baseball by a runner reaching home plate safely after touching the three bases in order — compare home run
f. : strength or ability to run
the first two laps took most of the run out of him
2.
a. chiefly Midland : creek 2
b. : a swift tidal current
c. : a pronounced swell or markedly choppy condition of the surface of the water
there was a run of sea in the harbor — John Masefield
d. : something that flows in the course of a certain operation or during a certain time
a run of must in wine making
the first run of sap in sugar maple
— compare forerun
3.
a. : the afterpart of the underwater body of a ship from where it begins to curve or slope upward and inward to the stern — compare entrance 7; see ship illustration
b. : the direction in which a vein of ore lies
c. : a direction of secondary or minor cleavage : grain
run of a mass of granite
— compare rift 4
d. : an irregular body of ore having an approximately horizontal direction
e. : the horizontal distance to which a mine drift is or may be carried
f.
(1) : the length of the base of a right triangle
(2) : the horizontal distance measured from the face of one riser to that of the next
(3) : the horizontal distance covered by a flight of steps
(4) : the horizontal distance from the wall plate to the center line of a building
the rise of a rafter per foot of run
(5) : extent measured linearly
the bridge carries a load of 500 pounds per foot run
g. : the distance irrigation water must flow from the supply ditch to the end of the field or to the lower level
h. : general tendency or direction
kept in touch with the general run of the stock market
4. : a continuous series especially of things of identical or similar sort
a run of poor poker hands
as
a. : a rapid scale passage in vocal or instrumental music
b. dancing : a number of rapid, small, elastic steps executed in even tempo
c. : the act of making successively a number of successful shots or strokes ; also : the score thus made
run of 15 balls in pool
a run of 20 in billiards
d. : an unbroken course of being repeated (as of a play on the stage)
e.
(1) : a set of consecutive measurements, readings, or observations
(2) mathematics : a maximal subsequence of elements of like kind in any ordered sequence of elements of two kinds
f. : a train of cars in a mine
g. : persistent and heavy demands from depositors, creditors, or customers
a run on a bank
a run on limited stocks of goods in a store
h. : a heavy demand for a printing sort not ordinarily needed in quantity
i. : sequence 2b
j. : a stereotyped passage of narrative or description introduced into Gaelic popular tales
5. : the quantity of work turned out in a continuous operation: as
a. : the paper made in a continuous operation (as to fill a given order or part of an order)
b. : a single distillation of a given amount of material
c. : pipeline run
d. : the quantity of lumber cut from a log
e. : a numbering unit for woolen yarns based on the number of 1,600-yard hanks to a pound
a two- run yarn has 3,200 yards to a pound
6. : the usual or normal kind, character, type, or group
the general run of modern fiction
average run of college graduates
his whole appearance was … out of the common run — Washington Irving
7.
a. : a caving in of a mine working
b. : a fall of a cage in a mine shaft
c. : deviation of a tool from a correct path
8.
a. : the distance covered in a period of continuous traveling or sailing
betting on the day's run of the ship
b. : a course or route mapped out and traveled with regularity
the run of the “Twentieth Century Limited” between New York and Chicago
c. : a single or essentially continuous journey : trip
a ship on her regular run to Europe
a 10,000 mile test run for gasoline mileage
d. : bomb run
e. : a news reporter's regular territory : beat
covering the labor run
f. : the distance a golf ball travels after touching the ground from a stroke
g. : freedom of movement in or access to a place or area
has the run of the whole neighborhood
has the run of his friend's house including the kitchen
9.
a. : the period during which a machine or plant is in continuous operation ; specifically : the period in the manufacture of water gas during which steam is admitted at the end of the blow and the gas is produced — compare back run
b. : a test or proof of a process, a material (as ore), or a machine
a laboratory run
10.
a. : a way, track, or path frequented by animals
a rabbit run
a beaver run
poisoning rat runs
b. : an enclosure for livestock where they may feed and exercise — often used in combination
fowl run
hog run
c. Australia : a large area of land used for grazing
sheep run
: ranch , station
run -holder
d. : the bower of a bowerbird
e. : an inclined passage between levels in a mine
f. : an inclined plane for a passageway (as in a theater) : ramp
g. : the clear space not less than 15 feet in length and immediately back of the foul line from which a bowler delivers his ball
11.
a. : an inclined course for coasting, skiing, or bobsledding
b. : a support (as a track, pipe, trough) on which something runs
sash run in a window frame
overhead run for a traveling hoist
c. : a settling trough for slimes used in working ore
d. : a long slightly inclined table used in washing starch free from gluten, fiber, and other impurities
12.
a. : a ravel in a knitted fabric (as in hosiery) caused by the breaking or dropping of one or more stitches
b. : a paint defect occurring at the time of application caused by excessive flow
13. : a pair of millstones
14. : the distance between two degrees or assigned points on an arc or curved scale (as of a surveying instrument) ; also : the value of a division of the scale in seconds of arc
15. runs plural but singular or plural in construction : diarrhea — not often in polite use
•
- by the run
- in the long run
III. adjective
Etymology: from past participle of run (I)
1.
a. : melted
run butter
run honey
b. : made from molten material : cast in a mold
run metal
run joint
2. : smuggled
run diamonds
3. Scotland
a. : thorough , outright
b. : continuous , running
4. of fish : having made a migration or spawning run
a fresh run salmon
5. : exhausted or winded from running