race

race1 [ reıs ] noun ***

1. ) count a competition that decides who is the fastest at doing something:

training for a big race

a close/difficult/tough race

win/lose a race: Marlene needs to win the last race to keep the championship title.

a ) a competition in which a person, organization, business, or country tries to win something or be the first to do something:

race for: There are three main candidates in the race for the presidency.

a race to do something: We are losing the race to find a cure for AIDS.

the race is on (=it has started): The race is on to save one of the country's most endangered species.

=> ARMS RACE

b ) one-horse race a competition in which it is obvious who will win:

The championship is looking increasingly like a one-horse race.

c ) the races plural a series of horse races:

We always enjoy a day at the races.

the Pimlico races

2. ) count or uncount a group of people who are similar because they have the same skin color or other physical features:

We do not discriminate on the basis of race or gender.

a ) a group of people who are similar because they speak the same language or have the same history or customs

b ) the human race all of the people of the world when considered as a single group

3. ) count SCIENCE a group of animals or plants that are similar to each other. A race of animals or plants is smaller than a species.

a race against time

a situation in which someone must do or finish something very quickly because they only have a limited amount of time to do it:

With only two days before the election, they find themselves in a race against time.

race

race 2 [ reıs ] verb **

1. ) intransitive or transitive to compete against other people or animals in a race:

We raced in a two-day drive from Las Vegas to Chicago.

I raced my brother down the street.

a ) transitive to compete in a race using a car, boat, horse, or other animal:

He still finds the time to race his horses at county fairs.

2. ) intransitive to move very quickly:

The economy seems to be racing toward another depression.

race to: The family raced to the basement when they heard Cheryl scream.

race through: She tried to control the thoughts that were racing through her mind.

a ) transitive to take someone somewhere quickly:

The children were raced to the hospital.

b ) intransitive to work or move at a faster speed than usual:

She felt her heart begin to race madly.

We could hear the engine racing.

race against time

to do or finish something very quickly because you only have a limited amount of time to do it:

Paul is racing against time to finish his essay.