- 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 run1) [intransitive] to move quickly to a place using your legs and feetrun across/into/down etc:You'll have to run if you want to catch the bus.
run to:A cat ran across the road in front of me.
run for cover/shelter:I ran to the door and opened it.
We ran for shelter as soon as the rain started.
a) [intransitive/transitive] to run in a racerun in:He's running the 100m.
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 timeThe race will be run at 3 pm.
c) [transitive] to run a particular distanceHow quickly can you run a mile?
2)a) [transitive] to control and organize something such as a business, organization, or eventrun a campaign:Sue's been running a mail-order business for ten years.
He was the man who ran Clinton's election campaign.
b) to organize and provide something such as a service or courseThe 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 workingDon't leave the car engine running.
run on petrol/electricity etc:I ran the dishwasher even though it wasn't full.
run off the mains (= use the electricity supply):Does your car run on petrol or diesel?
My laptop can run off the mains or a battery.
a) [intransitive/transitive] computing to start or to use a computer programrun on:Try running the program again and see if it works.
run under:The software will run on any PC.
a spreadsheet package that runs under Windows or Unix
b) [transitive] to own and use a motor vehicleexpenses involved in running a car
4) [intransitive] if a liquid runs somewhere, it flows thererun 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 thererun 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 itc) [intransitive] if something is running with a liquid, the liquid is flowing down itrun with:His back was running with sweat.
d) [transitive] to fill a bath or other container with water from a taprun (someone) a bath:I ran a sink full of cold water.
Dad offered to run me a bath.
5)a) [intransitive] if a play, film, or television programme runs, it continues to be performed or showna 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 dateThe contract only has another couple of months to run.
6) [intransitive] if a bus, train etc runs, it travels somewhere at regular timesrun on time (= arrive and leave at the right time):The train only runs at weekends.
be running 10 minutes/two hours etc late:Do the buses run on time?
The train was running twenty minutes late.
a) [transitive] informal to take someone somewhere in your carrun someone to/into:run someone there/home/back etc:John kindly offered to run me into town.
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 properlyrun 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 raterun at:Ticket prices were running anywhere from £50 to £200.
Inflation is running at 3%.
8) [transitive] to move or rub something along something elserun 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 placerun along/around/through etc:run parallel to something:There was a path running through the middle of the forest.
A mountain range runs parallel to the western border.
10) [transitive] to put something such as a wire or thread somewhererun 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 itA chill ran through me (= I suddenly felt frightened).
b) to have a particular thoughtrun to:Our thoughts seem to run along the same lines (= we think the same).
something runs through your mind/head (= you have a particular thought or idea):His thoughts ran to the first time he had met Matilda.
The thought that she might be lying ran through my mind.
12) [transitive] if newspapers run an article, advertisement, or photograph, they print it13) [intransitive] to try to be elected to an official job or positionrun for:How many candidates are running?
run against:Jackson announced his intention to run for president.
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 ita) if something such as paint or ink runs, it spreads to where it should not beCrying had made her mascara run.
b) if something such as butter runs, it becomes liquid and spreads because it is warm15) [transitive] to bring someone or something illegally into a countryWe know of several groups who are running guns into the country.
16) [intransitive] to grow in a particular directionrun up/over:Ivy runs up the walls of the house.
17) [intransitive] to move smoothlyThe curtains run on these tracks.
18) [intransitive] if a story, argument etc runs in a particular way, this is what happens or what someone saysThe 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 illegalThe 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.
informal to continue driving even though a traffic light is red and you should stoprun a (red) light
— mainly American
run a temperature/fever
— to be very hot because you are illThe 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 itWeak eyes run in the family.
- run dry- run riotPhrasal verbs:- run away- run by- run down- run in- run into- run off- run on- run out- run over- run to- run upSee:
II UK [rʌn] / US noun
Word forms "run":
singular run plural runs1)a) [countable, usually singular] the action of running for pleasure or in sportPaula usually has a shower after her run.
go for a run (= run for pleasure):That was a record-breaking run.
I went for a run after work.
b) a race in which you must run a long distanceLee 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 businessa good/winning/unbeaten run:Liverpool has had a fabulous run to the semi-finals.
run of:Eindhoven are on a twelve-match unbeaten run.
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 regularlyextend a run (= make it continue for longer):a musical that has enjoyed a successful run on Broadway
The programme has been so successful that its run has been extended.
3)a) [singular] a journey that a train, ship etc does regularlythe school/airport run:A shuttle bus makes the run from the station to the airport.
I'm doing the school run this morning.
b) a short journey that you do in a car for pleasureIt was a very pleasant run to the coast.
4) [countable] the amount of something that a company or factory produces at one timeThe plates are a limited edition run of 250.
5) [countable] an attempt to be elected to an official job or positionrun for:Lavell has not ruled out a run for the state senate seat.
6)a) [countable] one point in the game of cricketscore a run:He has scored 90 runs in this match.
b) one point in the game of baseball7) [countable] a small area with a fence around it where animals such as chickens or rabbits can run around8)a) [countable] a slope that you can slide down, usually on skisI started on the beginners' run.
a toboggan run
b) a shaped object for sliding or rolling something downa marble run
9) [countable] in card games, a group of cards whose numbers are in a series, for example a 4, 5, and 610) [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 youA 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 happyI'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 youThe 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 happenIn the normal run of events, this sort of thing should not happen.
- at a runSee:
English dictionary. 2014.