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run

• verb (running; past ran; past part. run) 1 move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all feet on the ground at the same time. 2 move about in a hurried and hectic way. 3 pass or cause to pass: Helen ran her fingers through her hair. 4 move forcefully: the tanker ran aground. 5 (of a bus, train, etc.) make a regular journey on a particular route. 6 be in charge of; manage or organize. 7 continue, operate, or proceed. 8 function or cause to function. 9 pass into or reach a specified state or level: inflation is running at 11 per cent. (run in) (of a quality or trait) be common or inherent in. (of a liquid) flow. emit or exude a liquid. (of dye or colour) dissolve and spread when wet. stand as a candidate. enter or be entered in a race. publish or be published in a newspaper or magazine. transport in a car. smuggle (goods). chiefly N. Amer. (of a stocking or pair of tights) develop a ladder.

• noun 1 an act or spell of running. 2 a running pace. 3 a journey or route. 4 a short excursion made in a car. 5 a course or track made or regularly used: a ski run. 6 a length, spell, or stretch of something: a run of bad luck. 7 an enclosed area in which animals or birds may run freely in the open. 8 Austral./NZ a large open stretch of land used for pasture or livestock. 9 a rapid series of musical notes. a sequence of cards of the same suit. (the run) the average or usual type. (the run of) free and unrestricted use of or access to somewhere. 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 the home plate after touching the bases. a ladder in stockings or tights. (the runs) informal diarrhoea.

— PHRASES be run off one’s feet be extremely busy. a (good) run for one’s money 1 challenging competition or opposition. 2 reward or enjoyment in return for one’s efforts. on the run 1 escaping from arrest. 2 while running or moving. run across meet or find by chance. run after informal pursue persistently. run along informal go away. run away 1 take flight; escape. 2 try to avoid facing up to danger or difficulty. run away with 1 escape the control of. 2 win (a competition or prize) easily. run before one can walk attempt something difficult before one has grasped the basic skills. run by (or past) tell (someone) about (something) to find out their opinion. run down 1 knock down with a vehicle. 2 criticize unfairly or unkindly. 3 reduce or become reduced in size or resources. 4 lose or cause to lose power; stop functioning. 5 gradually deteriorate. run in 1 Brit. use (something new) in such a way as not to make maximum demands upon it. 2 informal arrest (someone). run into 1 collide with. 2 meet by chance. 3 experience (a problem or difficult situation). run off 1 produce (a copy) on a machine. 2 write or recite quickly and with little effort. run on continue without stopping; go on longer than is expected. run out 1 use up or be used up. 2 become no longer valid. 3 extend; project. 4 Cricket dismiss (a batsman) by dislodging the bails with the ball while the batsman is still running. run over 1 knock down with a vehicle. 2 overflow. 3 exceed (a limit). run through 1 stab so as to kill. 2 (also run over) go over quickly or briefly as a rehearsal or reminder. run to 1 extend to or reach. 2 show a tendency towards. run up 1 allow (a bill, score, etc.) to accumulate. 2 make quickly or hurriedly. 3 raise (a flag). run up against experience or meet (a difficulty or problem). you can’t run with the hares and hunt with the hounds proverb you can’t be loyal to both sides in a conflict or dispute.