Definition of: run

(run) v. ran, run, run·ning v.i.
1. To move by rapid steps, faster than walking, in such a manner that both feet are off the ground for a portion of each step.
2. To move rapidly; go swiftly.
3. To flee; take flight.
4. To make a brief or rapid journey: We ran over to Staten Island last night.
5. To make regular trips; ply: This steamer runs between New York and Liverpool.
6 a To take part in a race, b To be a candidate or contestant: to run for dog–catcher.
7. To finish a race in a specified position: I ran a poor last.
8. To move or pass easily: The rope runs through the block.
9. To pass continuously and rapidly; elapse: The hours run by.
10. To proceed in direction or extent: This road runs north.
11. To move in or as in a stream; flow.
12. To become liquid and flow, as wax; also, to spread or mingle confusedly, as colors when wet.
13. To move or pass inadvertently: The ship ran aground.
14. To pass into a specified condition: to run to seed.
15. To come undone; unravel, as a fabric.
16. To give forth a discharge or flow; suppurate.
17. To leak.
18. To continue or proceed without restraint: The conversation ran on and on.
19. To be in operation; be operative; work: Will the engine run?
20. To continue in existence or effect; extend in time: Genius runs in her family.
21. To be reported or expressed: The story runs as follows.
22. To migrate, as salmon from the sea to spawn.
23. To occur or return to the mind: An idea ran through his head.
24. To occur with specified variation of size, quality, etc.: The corn is running small this year.
25. To be performed or repeated in continuous succession: The play ran for forty nights.
26. To make a rapid succession of demands for payment, as on a bank.
27. To continue unexpired or unpaid, as a debt; become payable.
—v.t.
28. To run or proceed along, as a route or path.
29. To make one's way over, through, or past: to run rapids.
30. To perform or accomplish by or as by running: to run a race or an errand.
31. To compete against in or as in a race.
32. To enter (a horse) for a race.
33. To present and support as a candidate.
34. To hunt or chase, as game.
35. To bring to a specified condition by or as by running: to run oneself out of breath.
36. To drive or force: with out of, off, into, through, etc.
37. To cause (a vessel) to move rapidly or freely: They ran the ship into port.
38. To move (the eye, hand, etc:) quickly or lightly: He ran his hand over the table.
39. To cause to move, slide, etc., as into a specified position: to run up a flag.
40. To cause to go or ply: to run a train between New York and Washington.
41. To transport or convey in a vessel or vehicle,
42. To smuggle.
43. To cause to flow: to run water into a pot.
44. To give forth a flow of; emit: Her eyes ran tears.
45. To mold, as from melted metal; found.
46. To sew (cloth) in a continuous line, usually by taking a number of stitches with the needle at a time.
47. To maintain or control the motion or operation of.
48. To direct or control; manage; oversee.
49. To allow to continue or mount up, as a bill.
50. In games, to make (a number of points, strokes, etc.) successively.
51. To publish in a magazine or newspaper: to run an ad.
52. To mark, set down, or trace, as a boundary line.
53. To suffer from (a fever, etc.).
—to run across To meet by chance.
—to run down
1. To pursue and overtake, as a fugitive.
2. To strike down while moving.
3. To exhaust, damage, lessen in worth, vigor, etc., as by abuse or overwork.
4. To speak of disparagingly; decry.
—to run in
1. To insert; include.
2. Printing To print without a paragraph or break.
3. Slang To arrest and place in confinement.
—to run into
1. To meet by chance. 2 To collide with.
—to run off
1. To produce on a typewriter, printing press, etc.
2. To decide (a tied race, game, etc.) by the outcome of another, subsequent race, game, etc.
3. To flee or escape; elope.
—to run out To come to an end; be exhausted, as supplies.
—to run out of To exhaust one's supply of.
—to run over
1. To ride or drive over; run down.
2. To overflow.
3. To go over or examine hastily or quickly; rehearse.
—to run through
1. To spend wastefully; squander.
2. To stab or pierce.
3. To run over (def. 3).
—to run up To produce; make hurriedly, as on a sewing machine.
—noun
1. The act, or an act, of running or going rapidly.
2. A running pace: to break into a run.
3. Flow; movement; sweep: the run of the tide.
4. A distance covered by running.
5. A journey or passage, especially between two points, made by a vessel, train, etc.: the run from New York to Albany.
6. A rapid journey or excursion, marked by a brief stay at the destination: to take a run into town.
7. A swift stream or brook.
8. A migration of fish, especially to up–river spawning grounds.
9. A grazing or feeding ground for animals or fowl; a range: a sheep run.
10. The regular trail or path of certain animals: an elephant run.
11. The bower of a bowerbird.
12. The privilege of free use or access: to have the run of the place.
13. A runway.
14. Music A rapid succession of tones; a roulade.
15. A series or succession.
16. A sequence of three or more playing cards in consecutive order.
17. A trend or tendency: the general run of the market.
18. The direction or course (of something): the run of the grain of wood.
19. A continuous length (of something): a run of pipe.
20. A continuous spell (of some condition): a run of luck.
21. A surge of demands made upon a bank or treasury to meet its obligations.
22. Any great sustained demand.
23. A period of continuous performance, occurrence, popularity, etc.: a play with a long run.
24. Class or type: the general run of readers.
25. A period of operation of a machine or device: an experimental run.
26. The output during such a period.
27. A period during which a liquid is allowed to run.
28. The amount of liquid allowed to flow at one time.
29. A measure of yarn (about 1,600 yards).
30. A narrow, lengthwise ravel, as in a sheer stocking.
31. An approach to a target made by a bombing plane.
32. In baseball, a complete circuit of the bases from home plate and back before three outs are made, thus scoring a point.
33. In cricket, an act in which both batsmen successfully run to opposite popping creases, thereby scoring a point.
34. A hunt, especially on horseback; a chase.
35. Naut. The after part of a ship's bottom where it narrows off from the floor timbers to the sternpost.
36. Mining A vein.
37. Austral. A sheep or cattle station.
—dry run Any practice test; specifically, an approach to a target made by a bombing plane, without dropping bombs.
—in the long run As the ultimate outcome of any train of circumstances.
—on the run
1. Almost without pausing while doing something else; hastily: to eat on the run.
2. In full retreat.
3. While running.
—adjective
1. Made liquid; melted.
2. Made by a process of melting and casting or molding: run metal; run butter.
3. Extracted or drained: run honey.
4. Smuggled; contraband: run liquor. [OE rinnan flow]