v.
(runs, running, ran
/ran/
; past part. run)
- move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all feet on the ground at the same time.
▸enter or be entered in a race.
▸(of hounds) chase or hunt their quarry.
▸(of a boat) sail straight and fast directly before the wind.
▸(of a migratory fish) go upriver from the sea in order to spawn.
- move about in a hurried and hectic way.
- pass or cause to pass:
Helen ran her fingers through her hair.
▸move forcefully:
the tanker ran aground.
▸informal fail to stop at (a red traffic light).
▸chiefly N. Amer. navigate (rapids or a waterfall) in a boat.
- flow or cause to flow.
▸cause water to flow over.
▸emit or exude a liquid:
her nose was running.
▸(of dye or colour) dissolve and spread when wet.
- (of a bus, train, etc.) make a regular journey on a particular route.
▸transport in a car:
I'll run you home.
- be in charge of; manage or organize.
▸continue, operate, or proceed:
everything's running according to plan.
▸own, maintain, and use (a vehicle).
- function or cause to function.
-
(run in)
(of a quality or trait) be common or inherent in.
- stand as a candidate.
- pass into or reach a specified state or level.
- chiefly N. Amer. (of a stocking or pair of tights) develop a ladder.
- publish or be published in a newspaper or magazine.
- smuggle (goods).
- N. Amer. informal cost (someone) (a specified amount).
n.
- an act or spell of running.
▸a running pace.
▸an annual mass migration of fish up or down a river.
- a journey or route.
▸a short excursion made in a car.
- a spell of producing, proceeding, or operating:
a run of bad luck.
▸a continuous stretch or length of something.
▸a rapid series of musical notes.
▸a sequence of cards of the same suit.
-
(a run on)
a widespread and sudden demand for:
a big run on nostalgia toys.
- a course or track made or regularly used:
a ski run.
-
(the run)
the average or usual type:
she stood out from the general run of Tory women.
- Cricket a unit of scoring achieved by hitting the ball so that both batsmen are able to run between the wickets.
▸Baseball a point scored by the batter returning to home plate after touching the bases.
- an enclosed area in which animals or birds may run freely in the open.
▸
(the run of)
free and unrestricted use of or access to somewhere.
▸Austral./NZ a large open stretch of land used for pasture or livestock.
- a ladder in stockings or tights.
- a downward trickle of liquid.
- a small stream or brook.
-
(the runs)
informal diarrhoea.
- Nautical the after part of a ship's bottom where it rises and narrows towards the stern.
Phrase
Phrase verbal
- run across
meet or find by chance. - run after
informal pursue persistently. - run along
informal go away. - run away
- take flight; escape.
- try to avoid facing up to danger or difficulty.
- run away with
- escape the control of:
Susan's imagination was running away with her.
- win (a competition or prize) easily.
- run something by
(or past)
tell (someone) about something, in order to obtain an opinion or reaction. - run someone/thing down
- (of a vehicle) hit and knock over a person or animal.
- criticize someone or something unfairly or unkindly.
- discover someone or something after a search.
-
(also run down)
reduce or become reduced in size or resources.
- lose or cause to lose power; stop or cause to stop functioning.
- gradually deteriorate.
- run someone in
informal arrest someone. - run something in
Brit. use something new in such a way as not to make maximum demands upon it. - run into
- collide with.
▸meet by chance.
- experience (a difficulty).
- run off
informal escape; abscond. - run something off
- produce a copy on a machine.
- write or recite something quickly and with little effort.
- drain liquid from a container.
- run on
continue without stopping; go on longer than is expected. - run out
- use up or be used up.
- become no longer valid.
- (of rope) be paid out.
- extend; project.
- run someone out
Cricket dismiss a batsman by dislodging the bails with the ball while the batsman is still running. - run over
- overflow.
- exceed (a limit).
- run someone/thing over
knock down a person or animal in a vehicle. - run someone through
stab a person so as to kill them. - run through
(or over)
go over quickly or briefly as a rehearsal or reminder. - run to
- extend to or reach.
- show a tendency towards.
- run something up
- allow a bill, score, etc. to accumulate.
- make something quickly or hurriedly.
- raise a flag.
- run up against
experience or meet (a difficulty). - run with
proceed with; accept.
Derivative
Etymology
OE rinnan, irnan (v.), of Gmc origin; the current form with -u- is first recorded in the 16th cent.