run */*/*/

I UK [rʌn] / US verb
Word forms "run":
present tense I/you/we/they run he/she/it runs present participle running past tense ran UK [ræn] / US past participle run

1) [intransitive] to move quickly to a place using your legs and feet

You'll have to run if you want to catch the bus.

run across/into/down etc:

A cat ran across the road in front of me.

run to:

I ran to the door and opened it.

run for cover/shelter:

We ran for shelter as soon as the rain started.

a) [intransitive/transitive] to run in a race

He's running the 100m.

run in:

I'd love to run in the London Marathon.

b) [transitive, usually passive] to have a race in a particular place or at a particular time

The race will be run at 3 pm.

c) [transitive] to run a particular distance

How quickly can you run a mile?

2)

a) [transitive] to control and organize something such as a business, organization, or event

Sue's been running a mail-order business for ten years.

run a campaign:

He was the man who ran Clinton's election campaign.

b) to organize and provide something such as a service or course

The shelter is run entirely by volunteers.

The bus company runs a regular airport shuttle service.

3) [intransitive/transitive] if a machine or engine runs, or if you run it, it is working

Don't leave the car engine running.

I ran the dishwasher even though it wasn't full.

run on petrol/electricity etc:

Does your car run on petrol or diesel?

run off the mains (= use the electricity supply):

My laptop can run off the mains or a battery.

a) [intransitive/transitive] computing to start or to use a computer program

Try running the program again and see if it works.

run on:

The software will run on any PC.

run under:

a spreadsheet package that runs under Windows or Unix

b) [transitive] to own and use a motor vehicle

expenses involved in running a car

4) [intransitive] if a liquid runs somewhere, it flows there

run down/from etc:

Tears were running down his face.

Blood ran from a wound in her leg.

a) [intransitive] if a river runs somewhere, it flows there

run into/to/from etc:

The Rhine runs into the North Sea.

b) [intransitive/transitive] if a tap runs, or if you run it, water comes out of it

c) [intransitive] if something is running with a liquid, the liquid is flowing down it

run with:

His back was running with sweat.

d) [transitive] to fill a bath or other container with water from a tap

I ran a sink full of cold water.

run (someone) a bath:

Dad offered to run me a bath.

5)

a) [intransitive] if a play, film, or television programme runs, it continues to be performed or shown

a soap opera that has been running for many years

How long did the film run for?

b) if an official agreement or document runs until a particular time, you can continue to use it until that date

The contract only has another couple of months to run.

6) [intransitive] if a bus, train etc runs, it travels somewhere at regular times

The train only runs at weekends.

run on time (= arrive and leave at the right time):

Do the buses run on time?

be running 10 minutes/two hours etc late:

The train was running twenty minutes late.

a) [transitive] informal to take someone somewhere in your car

run someone to/into:

John kindly offered to run me into town.

run someone there/home/back etc:

I'll run you there, it's no trouble.

b) [intransitive] if a vehicle runs somewhere, it moves there because the driver is not controlling it properly

run into/down/through etc:

The truck ran down the hill and into a shop window.

7) [intransitive, usually progressive] to reach a particular amount or rate

Ticket prices were running anywhere from £50 to £200.

run at:

Inflation is running at 3%.

8) [transitive] to move or rub something along something else

run something through/across/down something:

Fred ran his fingers gently through her hair.

In a fit of jealousy, he ran a key down the side of Greg's car.

9) [intransitive] if something such as a road or wall runs somewhere, it exists in that place

run along/around/through etc:

There was a path running through the middle of the forest.

run parallel to something:

A mountain range runs parallel to the western border.

10) [transitive] to put something such as a wire or thread somewhere

run something under/behind/through etc something:

You could run the cable behind the desk.

11)

a) [intransitive] if a feeling runs through you, you experience it

A chill ran through me (= I suddenly felt frightened).

b) to have a particular thought

Our thoughts seem to run along the same lines (= we think the same).

run to:

His thoughts ran to the first time he had met Matilda.

something runs through your mind/head (= you have a particular thought or idea):

The thought that she might be lying ran through my mind.

12) [transitive] if newspapers run an article, advertisement, or photograph, they print it

13) [intransitive] to try to be elected to an official job or position

How many candidates are running?

run for:

Jackson announced his intention to run for president.

run against:

There will be three candidates running against her.

14) [intransitive] if a piece of clothing or a colour runs, the colour spreads when you wash it

a) if something such as paint or ink runs, it spreads to where it should not be

Crying had made her mascara run.

b) if something such as butter runs, it becomes liquid and spreads because it is warm

15) [transitive] to bring someone or something illegally into a country

We know of several groups who are running guns into the country.

16) [intransitive] to grow in a particular direction

run up/over:

Ivy runs up the walls of the house.

17) [intransitive] to move smoothly

The curtains run on these tracks.

18) [intransitive] if a story, argument etc runs in a particular way, this is what happens or what someone says

The text ran something like this: "Don't mess with our business!"

19) [intransitive] if tights or stockings run, a hole in them becomes longer

•

run checks/tests on — to examine someone or something in order to get information, for example to find out what something is or whether there is a problem; to find out information about someone in order to be certain that they have not done anything illegal

The doctor wanted to run a few tests on him.

He was stopped by the police in his car and they ran a check on him.

run a (red) light — mainly American

informal to continue driving even though a traffic light is red and you should stop

run a temperature/fever — to be very hot because you are ill

The boy had been sent home from school because he was running a fever.

something runs in the/someone's family — if something such as a quality or disease runs in someone's family, a lot of people in the family have it

Weak eyes run in the family.

- come running

- run and do something

- run dry

- run your eyes over something

- run for it

- run for your life

- run someone's life

- run like hell

- run a mile

- running late

- running low

- running scared

- run someone off the road

- run rings round someone

- run riot

- run a risk

- run to fat

- run with it

- try to run before you can walk

- up and running

- something will run and run

Phrasal verbs:

- run across

- run after

- run along

- run around

- run around after

- run around with

- run away

- run away with

- run by

- run down

- run in

- run into

- run off

- run off with

- run on

- run out

- run out on

- run over

- run through

- run to

- run up

- run up against

See:

course I, cut I, deep II, foot I, high II, short II, steam I

II UK [rʌn] / US noun
Word forms "run":
singular run plural runs

1)

a) [countable, usually singular] the action of running for pleasure or in sport

Paula usually has a shower after her run.

That was a record-breaking run.

go for a run (= run for pleasure):

I went for a run after work.

b) a race in which you must run a long distance

Lee is doing a six-mile run on Saturday.

2)

a) [singular] a period of time when you continue to succeed or fail, especially in a sport or business

Liverpool has had a fabulous run to the semi-finals.

a good/winning/unbeaten run:

Eindhoven are on a twelve-match unbeaten run.

run of:

I'm sure we'll continue our run of successful overseas investments.

b) [countable] a period of time when a play or television programme is performed or shown regularly

a musical that has enjoyed a successful run on Broadway

extend a run (= make it continue for longer):

The programme has been so successful that its run has been extended.

3)

a) [singular] a journey that a train, ship etc does regularly

A shuttle bus makes the run from the station to the airport.

the school/airport run:

I'm doing the school run this morning.

b) a short journey that you do in a car for pleasure

It was a very pleasant run to the coast.

4) [countable] the amount of something that a company or factory produces at one time

The plates are a limited edition run of 250.

5) [countable] an attempt to be elected to an official job or position

run for:

Lavell has not ruled out a run for the state senate seat.

6)

a) [countable] one point in the game of cricket

score a run:

He has scored 90 runs in this match.

b) one point in the game of baseball

7) [countable] a small area with a fence around it where animals such as chickens or rabbits can run around

8)

a) [countable] a slope that you can slide down, usually on skis

I started on the beginners' run.

a toboggan run

b) a shaped object for sliding or rolling something down

a marble run

9) [countable] in card games, a group of cards whose numbers are in a series, for example a 4, 5, and 6

10) [countable] American a long thin hole in stockings or pantyhose

•

give someone a (good) run for their money — to compete very well against someone so that it is hard for them to defeat you

A new phone company is giving the others a run for their money.

have a (good) run for your money — to have a long period of time when you are successful or happy

I've had a good run for my money, but it's time to retire.

a run of good/bad luck — a period of time when good/bad things happen to you

The team seems to have come to the end of its run of bad luck.

the usual/general/normal run of something — the usual type of person or thing, or the way that things usually happen

In the normal run of events, this sort of thing should not happen.

- against the run of play

- at a run

- break into a run

- a clear run

- have the run of something

- make a run for it

- make a run for something

- on the run

- a run on something

- take a run at something

See:

bull run, dry run, long I, milk run, rat run, the runs, short I, test run