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UK /rʌn/verbWord forms: runs, running, (past)ran,
UK /ran/(past participle)run1. (no object)move at a speedfaster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same timethe dog ran across the roadshe ran the last fewyards, breathingheavilyhe hasn'tpaid for his drinks—run and catch him▪run as a sport or for exerciseI run everymorning▪(of an athlete or a racehorse) compete in a raceshe ran in the 200 metres(with object) Dave has run 42 marathons▪(with object)enter (a racehorse) for a raceI'm hoping to run him in the Portland Handicap▪move about in a hurried and hectic wayI've spent the whole day running round after the kids▪(Cricket)(of a batter) run from one wicket to the other in scoring or attempting to score a run▪(Baseball)(of a batter or base runner) attempt to advance to the next base▪(with object)(West Indian English)chase (someone) awayah went tuh eat the mangoes but the people run mih▪(of hounds) chase or hunt their quarrythe hounds are running▪(of a boat) sailstraight and fast directly before the windwe slanted across to the farbank and ran before the wind▪(of a migratory fish) go upriver from the sea in order to spawn2. pass or cause to pass quickly in a particulardirection(no object, with adverbial of direction) the rumour ran through the pack of photographers(with object and adverbial of direction) Helen ran her fingers through her hair▪move or cause to move forcefully or with a particular result(no object, with adverbial of direction) the tankerran aground off the Shetlands(with object and adverbial of direction) a woman ran a pushchair into the back of my legs▪(with object)(informal)fail to stop at (a redtraffic light)camerastriggered by cars running red lights at intersections▪(with object)(mainly North American English)navigate (rapids or a waterfall) in a boatthe boats were preparing to run the bigrapids3. (with reference to a liquid) flow or cause to flow(no object, with adverbial of direction) a small river runs into the sea at one side of the castle(with object) she ran cold water into a basin▪(with object)cause water to flow overI ran my hands under the tap▪(with object)fill (a bath) with watershe ran a bath and loweredherself into the water(with two objects) I'll run you a nicehot bath▪(no object)emit or exude a liquidshe was weeping and her nose was running▪(no object)(of a solid substance) melt and become fluidit was so hot that the butter ran▪(no object)(of the sea, the tide, or a river) rise higher or flow more quicklythere was still a heavy sea running▪(no object)(of dye or colour in fabric or paper) dissolve and spread when the fabric or paper becomes wetthe red dye ran when the socks were washed4. extend or cause to extend in a particular direction(no object, with adverbial of direction)cobbledstreets run down to a tinyharbour(with object and adverbial of direction) he ran a wire under the carpet▪(no object)pass into or reach a specified state or levelinflation is running at11percent(with complement) the decision ran counter to previousgovernmentcommitments5. (no object)(of a bus, train, ferry, or other form of transport) make a regularjourney on a particular routebuses run into town every halfhour▪(with object)put (a form of public transport) in servicethe group is drawing up plans to run trains on key routes▪(with object and adverbial of direction)take (someone) somewhere in a carI'll run you home6. (with object)be in charge of; manageAndrea runs her owncateringbusiness-run(as adjective, in combination) an attractive family-run hotel▪(no object, with adverbial)(of a system, organization, or plan) operate or proceed in a particular wayeverything's running according to plan▪organize, implement, or carry outwe decided to run a series of seminars▪own, maintain, and use (a vehicle)he could no longer afford to run a car7. be in or cause to be in operation; function or cause to function(no object) the car runs onunleadedfuel(with object) the modem must be run off a mains transformer▪move or cause to move between the spools of a recording machine(with object) I ran the tape back8. (no object)continue or be valid or operative for a particular period of timethe course ran for two daysthis particular debate will run and run▪(with adverbial or complement)happen or arrive at the specified timethe programme was running fifteen minutes late▪(of a play or exhibition) be staged or presentedthe play ran at Stratford last year9. (no object)stand as a candidate in an electionhe announced that he intended to run for President▪(with object)(especially of a political party) sponsor (a candidate) in an electionthey ran their first independent candidate at the Bromley by-election10. publish or be published in a newspaper or magazine(with object) the tabloid press ran the story(no object) when the story ran, there was a big to-do▪(no object)(of a saying, argument, piece of writing, etc.) have a specified wording‘Tapestries slashed!’ ran the dramatic headline11. (with object)bring (goods) into a country illegally and secretly; smugglethey run drugs for the cocaine cartels12. (with two objects)(North American English)cost (someone) (a specified amount)a new photocopier will run us about $1,30013. (no object)(North American English)(of a stocking or pair of tights) develop a ladder14. (with object)(West Indian English)providethe wait-and-see game continues until the government runs some ready cash▪provide pasture for (sheep or cattle); raise (livestock)they ran sheep and cattlenoun1. an act or spell of runningI usually go for a run in the morninga cross-country run▪a running paceRory set off at a run▪an annual mass migration of fish up or down a riverthe annual salmon runs2. a journey accomplished or route taken by a vehicle, aircraft, or boat, especially on a regular basisthe London–Liverpool run▪a short excursion made in a carwe could take a run out to the country▪the distance covered in a specified period, especially by a shipa record run of 398 miles from noon to noon▪a short flight made by an aircraft on a straight and even course at a constant speed before or while dropping bombsbombing runs by B52s3. an opportunity or attempt to achieve somethingtheir absence means the Russians will have a clear run at the title▪a preliminary test of a procedure or systemif you are styling your hair yourself, have a practice run▪an attempt to secure election to political officehis run for the Republican nomination4. a continuous spell of a particular situation or conditionhe's had a run of bad luck▪a continuous series of performancesthe play had a long run in the West End▪a quantity or amount of something produced at one timea production run of only 150 cars▪a continuous stretch or length of somethinglong runs of copper piping▪a rapid series of musical notes forming a scale▪a sequence of cards of the same suit5. a run ona widespread and sudden demand for (a commodity) or a widespread trading in (a currency)there's been a big run on nostalgia toys this year▪a sudden demand for repayment from (a bank) made by a large number of lendersgrowing nervousness among investors led to a run on some banks6. the runthe average or usual type of person or thingthe new trooper stood out from the general run of eager youth crowding to enlist▪the general tendency of somethingquite against the run of play, Smith scored an early try7. a sloping snow-covered course or track used for skiing, bobsleighing, or tobogganinga ski run▪a track made or regularly used by a particular animala badger run8. an enclosed area in which domestic animals or birds may run freely in the openan excellent and safe guinea pig run▪(Australian and New Zealand English)a large open stretch of land used for pasture or the raising of stockone of the richest cattle runs of the district9. the run offree and unrestricted use of or access toher cats were given the run of the house10. (Cricket)a unit of scoring achieved by hitting the ball so that both batters are able to run between the wickets, or awarded in some other circumstances▪(Baseball)a point scored by the batter returning to home plate after touching the other bases11. (mainly North American English)a vertical line of unravelled stitches in stockings or tights; a laddershe had a run in her nylons12. a downward trickle of paint or a similar substance when applied too thicklyvarnish should be applied with care to avoid runs and an uneven surface▪a small streama shallow run at the edge of a low rock13. the runs(informal)diarrhoea14. (Nautical)the after part of a ship's bottom where it rises and narrows towards the stern
runnableOn the use of verbs used with and instead of a ‘to’ infinitive, as in ‘run and fetch the paper’, see and
word origin
Old English rinnan, irnan (verb), of Germanic origin, probably reinforced in Middle English by Old Norserinna, renna. The current form with -u- in the present tense is first recorded in the 16th century
