Dictionary
1run
verb \ˈrən\
: to move with your legs at a speed that is faster than walking
: to leave a place quickly by running
: to run as part of a sport, for exercise, or in a race
ran \ˈran\ also chiefly dial runrunrun·ning
Full Definition of RUN
intransitive verb
1
2
a : to go without restraint : move freely about at will <let chickens run loose> b : to keep company : consort <a ram running with ewes> <ran with a wild crowd when he was young> c : to sail before the wind in distinction from reaching or sailing close-hauled d : roam, rove <running about with no overcoat>
3
4
a : to contend in a race b : to enter into an election contest <will run for mayor>
5
a : to move on or as if on wheels : glide <file drawers running on ball bearings> b : to roll forward rapidly or freely c : to pass or slide freely <a rope runs through the pulley> d : to ravel lengthwise <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 <the train runs between New York and Washington> b of fish : to migrate or move in considerable numbers; especially : to move up or down a river to spawn
8
9
a (1) : to continue in force, operation, or production <the contract has two more years to run> <the play ran for six months> (2) : to have a specified duration, extent, or length <the manuscript runs nearly 500 pages> b : to accompany as a valid obligation or right <a right-of-way that runs with the land> c : to continue to accrue or become payable <interest on the loan runs from July 1>
10
: to pass from one state to another <run into debt>
11
12
a : to develop rapidly in some specific direction; especially : to throw out an elongated shoot of growth b : to tend to produce or develop a specified quality or feature <they run to big noses in that family>
13
a : to lie in or take a certain direction <the boundary line runs east> b : to lie or extend in relation to something c : to go back : reach d (1) : to be in a certain form or expression <the letter runs as follows> (2) : to be in a certain order of succession
14
a : to occur persistently <musical talent runs in the family> b (1) : to remain of a specified size, amount, character, or quality <profits were running high> (2) : to have or maintain a relative position or condition (as in a race) <ran third> <running late> c : to exist or occur in a continuous range of variation <shades run from white to dark gray>
15
a : to spread or pass quickly from point to point <chills ran up her spine> b : to be current : circulate <speculation ran rife>
transitive verb
1
a : to cause (an animal) to go rapidly : ride or drive fast b : to bring to a specified condition by or as if by running <ran himself to death> c : to go in pursuit of : hunt, chase <dogs that run deer> d : to follow the trail of backward : trace <ran the rumor to its source> e : to enter, register, or enroll as a contestant in a race f : to put forward as a candidate for office g : to carry (the football) on a running play
2
a : to drive (livestock) especially to a grazing place b : to provide pasturage for (livestock) c : to keep or maintain (livestock) on or as if on pasturage
3
a (1) : to pass over or traverse with speed (2) : to run on or over in athletic competition <runs the bases well> <run the floor> b : to accomplish or perform by or as if by running <ran a great race> <run errands> c : to slip or go through or past <run a blockade> <run a red light> d : to travel on (as a river) in a boat <run the rapids>
4
5
: to cause to pass lightly or quickly over, along, or into something <ran her eye down the list>
6
8
a : to cause to move or flow in a specified way or into a specified position <run cards into a file> b : to cause to produce a flow (as of water) <run the faucet>; also : to prepare by running a faucet <run a hot bath>
9
10
: to make oneself liable to : incur <ran the risk of discovery>
11
: to mark out : draw <run a contour line on a map>
12
a : to permit (as charges) to accumulate before settling <run a tab at the bar> —often used with up <ran up a large phone bill> b : cost 1 <rooms that run $50 a night>
13
a : to produce by or as if by printing —usually used with off <ran off 10,000 copies of the first edition> b : to carry in a printed medium : print <every newspaper ran the story>
14
a : to make (a series of counts) without a miss <run 19 in an inning in billiards> b : to lead winning cards of (a suit) successively c : to alter by addition <ran his record to six wins and four losses>
15
: to make (a golf ball) roll forward after alighting
— run across
: to meet with or discover by chance
— run a fever or run a temperature
: to have a fever
— run after
— run against
— run a tight ship
: to have strict and exacting standards in controlling or managing something (as a business)
— run by or run past
: to present to (as for evaluation) <ran some ideas by her>
— run circles around or run rings around
: to show marked superiority over : defeat decisively or overwhelmingly
— run dry
1
: to use up an available supply
2
: to become exhausted or spent <his inspiration had run dry>
— run interference
: to provide assistance by or as if by clearing a path through obstructions <ran interference for me with the press>
— run into
1
a : to change or transform into : become b : to merge with c : to mount up to <their yearly income often runs into six figures>
2
a : to collide with b : to meet by chance <ran into an old classmate the other day>
— run low on
: to approach running out of <running low on options>
— run one's mouth
: to talk excessively or foolishly
— run riot
1
: to act wildly or without restraint
2
: to occur in profusion <daffodils running riot>
— run short
: to become insufficient
— run short of
: to use up : run low on
— run the numbers
: to perform calculations
— run the table
1
: to sink all remaining shots without missing in pool
2
: to win all remaining contests
— run to
: to mount up to <the book runs to 500 pages>
— run upon
: to run across : meet with
— run with
1
: to use or exploit fully : make the most of <took the idea and ran with it>
2
: to publicize widely <the press ran with the quote>
See run defined for English-language learners
See run defined for kids
Usage Discussion of RUN
The past tense run still survives in speech in southern England and in the speech especially of older people in some parts of the United States It was formerly used in literature, and was a standard variant in our dictionaries from 1828 until 1934. Grammarians have generally opposed it, and many people consider it nonstandard. Just about everybody uses ran in writing now.
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Origin of RUN
Middle English ronnen, alteration of rinnen, v.i. (from Old English iernan, rinnan & Old Norse rinna) & of rennen, v.t., from Old Norse renna; akin to Old High German rinnan, v.i., to run, Sanskrit riṇāti he causes to flow, and probably to Latin rivus stream
First Known Use: before 12th century
2run
noun
: an act of running
: a continuous series of similar things
: a continuous series of performances or showings
Full Definition of RUN
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
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 sing or plural in constr : diarrhea —used with the
— run·less \-ləs\ 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>
See run defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of RUN
14th century
3run
adjective
Definition of RUN
1
a : being in a melted state <run butter> b : made from molten material : cast in a mold <run metal>
2
of fish : having made a migration or spawning run <a fresh run salmon>
3
: exhausted or winded from running
First Known Use of RUN
1774
RUN Defined for Kids
1run
verb \ˈrən\
ran \ˈran\runrun·ning
Definition of RUN for Kids
1
: to go at a pace faster than a walk
2
: to go rapidly or hurriedly <She ran home to get her book.>
3
: to take to flight <They saw the police and ran.>
4
: to pass over, across, or through <She ran her fingers through her hair.>
5
: 2function <That old car is still running.>
6
: to cause to function <Can you run this machine?>
7
: extend 2 <The trail runs from here to the border.>
8
: to move freely about <He let the animals run loose.>
9
: 1flow 1 <A brook runs through the field.>
10
: to be in charge of : manage <My pop runs a newspaper here in town. — Oliver Butterworth, The Enormous Egg>
11
: to do something by or as if by running <I'm running errands.>
12
: to take part in a race
13
: to move on or as if on wheels
14
: to go back and forth often according to a fixed schedule <The train runs between Boston and Chicago.>
15
: to migrate or move in schools <The salmon are running early this year.>
16
: to continue in force <The exhibit runs until the end of the month.>
17
: to pass into a specified condition <The well ran dry.>
18
: to spread into another area <The dyes are guaranteed not to run.>
19
: to give off liquid <My nose is running.>
20
: to tend to develop a specified feature or quality <The shirts run small.>
21
: to slip through or past <They ran the blockade.>
22
: to cause to penetrate <He ran a knife through the bread.>
23
: to cause to go <The sheriff ran them out of town.> <I ran my car off the road.>
24
: to take on <She ran the risk of being caught.>
25
: to print or broadcast <Every channel runs the ad.>
26
: to be a candidate for office <She ran for mayor.>
27
: to occur again and again <The condition runs in the family.>
— run away
: to leave home secretly without intending to return
— run into
: to meet by chance
— run off
: to leave in a hurry
— run out
1
: to come to an end <Time ran out before I finished.>
2
: to become used up <Supplies were running out.>
— run out of
: to use up the available supply of <We ran out of gas.>
— run over
: 1overflow 1
2run
noun
Definition of RUN for Kids
1
: an act or the action of running <He took the dog for a run.>
2
: a score made in baseball by a base runner reaching home plate
3
: an enclosure for animals where they may feed and exercise
4
: the usual or normal kind <It's like the usual run of shops.>
5
: a continuous series especially of similar things <We have had a long run of good luck.>
6
: sudden heavy demands from depositors, creditors, or customers <There was a run on the bank.>
7
: the quantity of work turned out in a continuous operation
8
: the distance covered in a period of continuous traveling
9
: a regular course or trip
10
: freedom of movement <Our guests had the run of the house.>
11
: a way, track, or path frequented by animals <a deer run>
12
: 1slope 1 <a ski run>
13
: a spot in knitted fabric that has unraveled <My stocking has a run in it.>
Medical Dictionary
run
intransitive verb \ˈrən\
ran \ˈran\ runrun·ning
Medical Definition of RUN
: to discharge fluid (as pus or serum) <a running sore>
—run a feveror run a temperature
: to have a fever
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