"run" Definition

of Run

of Run

To move, proceed, advance, pass, go, come, etc., swiftly, smoothly, or with quick action; -- said of things animate or inanimate. Hence, to flow, glide, or roll onward, as a stream, a snake, a wagon, etc.; to move by quicker action than in walking, as a person, a horse, a dog.

To go swiftly; to pass at a swift pace; to hasten.

To flee, as from fear or danger.

To steal off; to depart secretly.

To contend in a race; hence, to enter into a contest; to become a candidate; as, to run for Congress.

To pass from one state or condition to another; to come into a certain condition; -- often with in or into; as, to run into evil practices; to run in debt.

To exert continuous activity; to proceed; as, to run through life; to run in a circle.

To pass or go quickly in thought or conversation; as, to run from one subject to another.

To discuss; to continue to think or speak about something; -- with on.

To make numerous drafts or demands for payment, as upon a bank; -- with on.

To creep, as serpents.

To flow, as a liquid; to ascend or descend; to course; as, rivers run to the sea; sap runs up in the spring; her blood ran cold.

To proceed along a surface; to extend; to spread.

To become fluid; to melt; to fuse.

To turn, as a wheel; to revolve on an axis or pivot; as, a wheel runs swiftly round.

To travel; to make progress; to be moved by mechanical means; to go; as, the steamboat runs regularly to Albany; the train runs to Chicago.

To extend; to reach; as, the road runs from Philadelphia to New York; the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.

To go back and forth from place to place; to ply; as, the stage runs between the hotel and the station.

To make progress; to proceed; to pass.

To continue in operation; to be kept in action or motion; as, this engine runs night and day; the mill runs six days in the week.

To have a course or direction; as, a line runs east and west.

To be in form thus, as a combination of words.

To be popularly known; to be generally received.

To have growth or development; as, boys and girls run up rapidly.

To tend, as to an effect or consequence; to incline.

To spread and blend together; to unite; as, colors run in washing.

To have a legal course; to be attached; to continue in force, effect, or operation; to follow; to go in company; as, certain covenants run with the land.

To continue without falling due; to hold good; as, a note has thirty days to run.

To discharge pus or other matter; as, an ulcer runs.

To be played on the stage a number of successive days or nights; as, the piece ran for six months.

To sail before the wind, in distinction from reaching or sailing closehauled; -- said of vessels.

Specifically, of a horse: To move rapidly in a gait in which each leg acts in turn as a propeller and a supporter, and in which for an instant all the limbs are gathered in the air under the body.

To move rapidly by springing steps so that there is an instant in each step when neither foot touches the ground; -- so distinguished from walking in athletic competition.

To cause to run (in the various senses of Run, v. i.); as, to run a horse; to run a stage; to run a machine; to run a rope through a block.

To pursue in thought; to carry in contemplation.

To cause to enter; to thrust; as, to run a sword into or through the body; to run a nail into the foot.

To drive or force; to cause, or permit, to be driven.

To fuse; to shape; to mold; to cast; as, to run bullets, and the like.

To cause to be drawn; to mark out; to indicate; to determine; as, to run a line.

To cause to pass, or evade, offical restrictions; to smuggle; -- said of contraband or dutiable goods.

To go through or accomplish by running; as, to run a race; to run a certain career.

To cause to stand as a candidate for office; to support for office; as, to run some one for Congress.

To encounter or incur, as a danger or risk; as, to run the risk of losing one's life. See To run the chances, below.

To put at hazard; to venture; to risk.

To discharge; to emit; to give forth copiously; to be bathed with; as, the pipe or faucet runs hot water.

To be charged with, or to contain much of, while flowing; as, the rivers ran blood.

To conduct; to manage; to carry on; as, to run a factory or a hotel.

To tease with sarcasms and ridicule.

To sew, as a seam, by passing the needle through material in a continuous line, generally taking a series of stitches on the needle at the same time.

To migrate or move in schools; -- said of fish; esp., to ascend a river in order to spawn.

The act of running; as, a long run; a good run; a quick run; to go on the run.

A small stream; a brook; a creek.

That which runs or flows in the course of a certain operation, or during a certain time; as, a run of must in wine making; the first run of sap in a maple orchard.

A course; a series; that which continues in a certain course or series; as, a run of good or bad luck.

State of being current; currency; popularity.

Continued repetition on the stage; -- said of a play; as, to have a run of a hundred successive nights.

A continuing urgent demand; especially, a pressure on a bank or treasury for payment of its notes.

A range or extent of ground for feeding stock; as, a sheep run.

The aftermost part of a vessel's hull where it narrows toward the stern, under the quarter.

The distance sailed by a ship; as, a good run; a run of fifty miles.

A voyage; as, a run to China.

A pleasure excursion; a trip.

The horizontal distance to which a drift may be carried, either by license of the proprietor of a mine or by the nature of the formation; also, the direction which a vein of ore or other substance takes.

A roulade, or series of running tones.

The greatest degree of swiftness in marching. It is executed upon the same principles as the double-quick, but with greater speed.

The act of migrating, or ascending a river to spawn; -- said of fish; also, an assemblage or school of fishes which migrate, or ascend a river for the purpose of spawning.

In baseball, a complete circuit of the bases made by a player, which enables him to score one; in cricket, a passing from one wicket to the other, by which one point is scored; as, a player made three runs; the side went out with two hundred runs.

A pair or set of millstones.

Melted, or made from molten material; cast in a mold; as, run butter; run iron or lead.

Smuggled; as, run goods.

(-nn-; past ran; past part. Run) 1 go with quick steps, never having both or all feet on the ground at once. 2 flee, abscond. 3 go or travel hurriedly or briefly (i''ll just run down to the shops). 4 a advance by or as by rolling or on wheels, or smoothly or easily. B (cause to) be in action or operation or go in a specified way (left the engine running; ran the car into a tree). 5 be current or operative (lease runs for 99 years). 6 travel on its route (train is running late). 7 (of a play etc.) Be staged or presented (now running at the apollo). 8 extend; have a course, order, or tendency (road runs by the coast; prices are running high). 9 a (often absol.) Compete in (a race). B finish a race in a specified position. 10 (often foll. By for) seek election (ran for president). 11 flow (with) or be wet; drip (with) (walls running with condensation). 12 a cause (water etc.) To flow. B fill (a bath) thus. 13 spread rapidly (ink ran over the table). 14 traverse (a course, race, or distance). 15 perform (an errand). 16 publish (an article etc.) In a newspaper etc. 17 direct or manage (a business etc.). 18 own and use (a vehicle) regularly. 19 transport in a private vehicle (ran me to the station). 20 enter (a horse etc.) For a race. 21 smuggle (guns etc.). 22 chase or hunt. 23 allow (an account) to accumulate before paying. 24 (of a dyed colour) spread from the dyed parts. 25 a (of a thought, the eye, the memory, etc.) Pass quickly (ideas ran through my mind). B pass (one''s eye) quickly (ran my eye down the page). 26 (of tights etc.) Ladder. 27 (of esp. The eyes or nose) exude liquid. n. 1 running. 2 short excursion. 3 distance travelled. 4 general tendency. 5 regular route. 6 continuous stretch, spell, or course (run of bad luck). 7 (often foll. By on) high general demand (run on the dollar). 8 quantity produced at one time (print run). 9 average type or class (general run of customers). 10 point scored in cricket or baseball. 11 (foll. By of) free use of or access to (run of the house). 12 a animal''s regular track. B enclosure for fowls etc. C range of pasture. 13 ladder in tights etc. 14 mus. Rapid scale passage. 15 (in full the runs) colloq. Diarrhoea. on the run fleeing. Run about 1 bustle, hurry. 2 (esp. Of children) play freely. Run across happen to meet or find. Run after 1 pursue at a run. 2 pursue, esp. Sexually. Run along colloq. Depart. Run around 1 take from place to place by car etc. 2 (often foll. By with) slang engage in esp. Promiscuous sexual relations. Run away 1 (often foll. By from) flee, abscond. 2 mentally evade (a problem etc.). Run away with 1 carry off. 2 win easily. 3 deprive of self-control, carry away. 4 consume (money etc.). 5 (of a horse) bolt with (a rider etc.). 6 leave home to have a relationship with (esp. Another person''s husband or wife). Run down 1 knock down. 2 reduce the numbers etc. Of. 3 (of an unwound clock etc.) Stop. 4 discover after a search. 5 colloq. Disparage. Run dry 1 cease to flow. 2 = run out 1. Run for it seek safety by fleeing. Run (or good run) for one''s money 1 vigorous or close competition. 2 some return for outlay or effort. Run the gauntlet see *gauntlet2. Run high (of feelings) be strong. Run in 1 run (an engine or vehicle) carefully when new. 2 colloq. Arrest. Run in the family (of a trait) be common in a family. Run into 1 collide with. 2 encounter. 3 reach as many as (a usu. High figure). Run into the ground colloq.

(good or bad), the success or duration of a piece’s performance.—_Theatrical._

to comprehend, &c.; “I don’t RUN to it,” _i.e._, I can’t do it, I don’t understand; also not money enough, as, “I should like to, but it wont RUN to it.”

“to get the RUN upon any person,” to have the upper hand, or be able to laugh at him. RUN down, to abuse or backbite any one; to “lord it,” or “drive over” him. Originally stable slang.