run

run1 [ rʌn ] (past tense ran [ ræn ] ; past participle run) verb ***

▸ 1 move quickly with legs

▸ 2 control/organize

▸ 3 machine: work

▸ 4 liquid: flow

▸ 5 try to be elected

▸ 6 vehicle: travel

▸ 7 be shown/performed

▸ 8 reach amount/rate

▸ 9 move/rub something along something

▸ 10 exist in certain place

▸ 11 place wire/thread etc.

▸ 12 have feeling/thought

▸ 13 print article etc.

▸ 14 liquid/color: spread

▸ 15 move someone/something illegally

▸ 16 plant: grow in direction

▸ 17 move smoothly

▸ 18 happen/say

▸ 19 pantyhose: get hole

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive to move quickly to a place using your legs and feet:

You'll have to run if you want to catch the school bus.

run across/into/down etc.: A cat ran across the road in front of me.

run for cover/shelter: We ran for shelter as soon as the rain started.

run to: I ran to the door and opened it.

a ) intransitive or transitive to run in a race:

He's running the hundred yard dash.

run in: I'd love to run in the Boston Marathon.

b ) transitive usually passive to have a race in a particular place or at a particular time:

The race will be run at 3 p.m.

c ) run like hell INFORMAL to run as fast as you can

d ) transitive to run a particular distance:

How quickly can you run a mile?

2. ) transitive to control and organize something such as a business, organization, or event: MANAGE:

Sue's been running a mail-order business for years.

run a campaign: He was the man who ran Clinton's election campaign.

a ) to organize and provide something such as a service or class:

The shelter is run entirely by volunteers.

The bus company runs a regular airport shuttle service.

3. ) intransitive or transitive if a machine or engine runs or you run it, it is working:

Don't leave the engine running.

I ran the dishwasher even though it wasn't full.

run on gas/electricity etc.: Does your car run on premium or unleaded?

a ) intransitive or transitive to start or use a computer program:

Try running the program again and see if it works.

run on: The software will run on any PC.

run under: a spreadsheet package that runs under Windows or Unix

4. ) intransitive if a liquid runs somewhere, it flows there:

run 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 there:

run into/to/from etc.: The Mississippi runs into the Gulf of Mexico.

b ) intransitive or transitive if a FAUCET runs or you run it, water comes out of it

c ) intransitive if something is running with a liquid, the liquid is flowing down it:

run with: His back was running with sweat.

d ) transitive to fill a bath or other container with water from a FAUCET:

I ran a sink full of cold water.

run a bath: Dad offered to run a bath for me.

5. ) intransitive to try to be elected to an official job or position:

How many candidates are running?

run for: Jackson announced his intention to run for President.

run against: There will be three candidates running against her in next month's elections.

6. ) intransitive if a bus, train, etc. runs, it travels somewhere at regular times:

The train only runs on the weekend.

run on time (=arrive and leave at the right time): The trains never seem to run on time.

be running 10 minutes/two hours etc. late: The shuttle was running twenty minutes late.

a ) transitive INFORMAL to take someone somewhere in your car:

run someone to/into: John kindly offered to run me into town.

run someone there/home/back etc.: 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 properly:

run into/down/through etc.: The truck ran down the hill and into a store window.

7. ) intransitive if a play, movie, or television program runs, it continues to be performed or shown:

a soap opera that has been running for many years

How long did the movie run for?

a ) if an official agreement or document runs until a particular time, you can continue to use it until that date:

The contract only has another couple of months to run.

8. ) intransitive usually progressive to reach a particular amount or rate:

Ticket prices were running anywhere from $50 to $200.

run at: Inflation is running at 3%.

9. ) transitive to move or rub something along something else:

In a fit of jealousy, he ran a key down the side of Greg's car.

run something through/across/down something: Fred ran his fingers gently through her hair.

10. ) intransitive if something such as a road or wall runs somewhere, it exists in that place:

run along/around/through etc.: There was a path running through the middle of the forest.

run parallel to something: A mountain range runs parallel to the western border.

11. ) transitive to put something such as a wire or THREAD somewhere:

run something under/behind/through etc. something: You could run the cable behind the desk.

12. ) intransitive if a feeling runs through you, you experience it:

A chill ran through me (=I suddenly felt frightened).

1

a ) to have a particular thought:

Our thoughts seem to run along the same lines (=we think the same).

run to: His thoughts ran to the first time he had met Matilda.

something runs through your mind/head (=you have a particular thought or idea): The thought that she might be lying ran through my mind.

13. ) transitive if newspapers run an article, advertisement, or photograph, they print it

14. ) intransitive if a piece of clothing or a color runs, the color spreads when you wash it

1

a ) if something such as paint or ink runs, it spreads to where it should not be:

Crying had made her mascara run.

1

b ) if something such as butter runs, it becomes liquid and spreads because it is warm

15. ) transitive to bring something or someone illegally into a country:

We know of several groups who are running guns into the country.

16. ) intransitive to grow in a particular direction:

run up/over: Ivy runs up the walls of the house.

17. ) intransitive to move smoothly:

The curtains run on these tracks.

18. ) intransitive if a story, argument, etc. runs in a particular way, this is what happens or what someone says:

The text ran something like this: Don't mess with our business!

19. ) intransitive if TIGHTS or PANTYHOSE run, a hole in them becomes longer

come running

1. ) to do exactly as someone tells you in a way that makes you look weak:

She just looks at him, and he comes running like a puppy.

2. ) to ask someone for help or sympathy, especially in a way that is annoying:

come running to: Don't come running to me when Linda dumps you.

run and do something SPOKEN

used for telling someone, especially a child, to do something quickly:

Run and brush your teeth.

run checks/tests on

1. ) to examine someone or something in order to be certain that everything is working correctly

2. ) to find out information about someone in order to be certain they have not done anything illegal

run circles/rings around someone

to do something much better than someone else

run dry

1. ) if a river runs dry, there is no water left in it

2. ) if a supply of something such as money runs dry, there is no more of it left

run your eyes over something

to look at or read something very quickly:

Would you mind running your eyes over this report?

run for it SPOKEN

to run very quickly in order to escape from someone or something:

As soon as he looked the other way, we ran for it.

run for your life

to run because you are in danger

run someone's life INFORMAL

to keep telling someone what they should do in a way that is annoying:

Mom, will you stop trying to run my life!

run a mile BRITISH INFORMAL

to try to avoid a situation or person because you are embarrassed or frightened

run someone off the road

to drive in a way that forces someone else's car to drive off the road

run out of gas/steam

to become too tired to finish something

run a (red) light INFORMAL

to continue driving even though a TRAFFIC LIGHT is red and you should stop

run riot

1. ) to behave in a noisy and uncontrolled way:

After the game the fans were running riot in the streets.

2. ) if your imagination runs riot, you have a lot of strange or exciting thoughts

3. ) if a plant runs riot, it grows in an uncontrolled way

run a risk

to do something that may have a bad result:

run the risk of doing something: You run the risk of upsetting her if you tell her the truth.

run a temperature/fever

to be very hot because you are sick

run to fat

to begin to get fat because you are doing less exercise

run wild

to behave in an uncontrolled way:

Their ten-year-old son is just left to run wild.

run with it

to take control of something such as a plan or problem and add your own ideas in order to make it successful:

Let's pick up this idea and run with it.

running high

if a feeling is running high, many people have it:

Speculation is running high that he may announce his engagement.

feelings are running high (=many people are angry or upset): Feelings are running high over a proposed new runway at the airport.

running late

doing things or arriving in places later than planned:

I'm running a little late this morning.

running low

if something is running low, or you are running low on something, there is not much of it left:

Supplies of food were running low.

running low on: We're running low on milk.

running scared INFORMAL

worried because you know that your opponent is very good or strong

running short

to not have many or much of something left:

running short of something: I'm running short of ideas.

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 it:

Weak eyes run in the family.

try to run before you can walk MAINLY BRITISH

to try to achieve something very difficult immediately, without first doing more basic things

up and running

starting to work correctly:

It took two years to get the project up and running.

something will run and run

used for saying that you think something will continue for a long time:

This is a debate that will run and run.

=> COURSE1, CUT1, DEEP 2, FOOT1, GROUND1

,run a`cross phrasal verb transitive

run across someone/something to find something or meet someone by chance:

I ran across the letter while I was going through the drawers.

,run `after phrasal verb transitive

1. ) run after someone/something to chase someone or something:

Velluci ran after the car waving his fists.

2. ) run after someone INFORMAL to try to make someone notice you because you are sexually attracted to them

,run a`long phrasal verb intransitive OLD-FASHIONED

used for telling children to go away

,run a`round phrasal verb intransitive

to be very busy doing a lot of different things:

I've been running around all day.

,run a`round after phrasal verb transitive

run around after someone to do a lot of things for someone, such as cleaning or getting things

,run a`round with phrasal verb transitive INFORMAL

run around with someone to spend a lot of time with someone, especially someone who other people do not approve of

,run a`way phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) to secretly leave a place where you should stay, because you are not happy there:

run away from: When I was 13, I ran away from home.

2. ) to try to avoid dealing with a difficult or unpleasant situation:

run away from: You can't keep running away from the problem.

,run a`way with phrasal verb transitive

1. ) run away with someone to secretly leave a place with someone so that you can live together:

She ran away with Steven when she was only sixteen.

2. ) run away with someone if feelings, ideas, etc. run away with someone, they make someone say or do something stupid

3. ) run away with something to steal something, or borrow something without asking

4. ) run away with something INFORMAL to win a competition, game, or prize very easily

,run `by phrasal verb transitive

run something by someone to tell someone your ideas so that they can give you their opinion:

Can I run a few ideas by you?

run that by me again SPOKEN

used for asking someone to repeat what they have just said

,run `down phrasal verb

1. ) transitive to hit someone with your car and injure or kill them:

be/get run down: She got run down outside the school.

2. ) transitive to criticize someone, especially in an unfair way:

You're always running me down!

run yourself down: You're a great Mom. Why do you run yourself down?

3. ) intransitive or transitive if something such as a machine or clock runs down, or you run it down, it gradually stops working because it has no power:

Switch your headlights off, or you'll run the battery down.

4. ) transitive run down something to quickly read everything on a list:

I'll just run down the list and see if we've forgotten anything.

5. ) intransitive or transitive BRITISH if a business or organization runs down or someone runs it down, it gradually becomes smaller

=> RUNDOWN

,run `into phrasal verb transitive

1. ) run into someone to meet someone when you did not expect to:

Guess who I ran into this morning?

2. ) run into someone/something to hit someone or something by accident while you are driving:

A truck ran into me (=hit my car) at the stop light this morning.

run into (the) millions/hundreds/thousands etc.

to reach a particular amount:

Flood damages could run into millions.

run into trouble/difficulty/problems etc.

to start to have trouble/difficulty/problems etc.:

Our project ran into difficulties when we lost a sponsor.

,run `off phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive to suddenly leave a place or person:

Their dad ran off when they were little.

2. ) transitive to quickly print a copy of something:

Would you mind running off some more copies of the agenda?

3. ) transitive to quickly and easily write something such as a poem or speech:

James can just run off a poem for any occasion.

4. ) intransitive or transitive if a liquid runs off or you run it off, it flows away from or out of something:

This channel allows rainwater to run off.

5. ) transitive run someone off AMERICAN VERY INFORMAL to force someone to leave a place

run off at the mouth AMERICAN SPOKEN

to talk too much

,run `off with phrasal verb transitive INFORMAL

1. ) run off with someone to secretly leave a place with someone in order to marry them or have a sexual relationship with them:

They said Phil had run off with his wife's best friend.

2. ) run off with something to steal something or take it without permission

,run `on phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) to continue for longer than expected or planned:

I hope this meeting doesn't run on too long.

2. ) to talk for a long time about something in a way that is boring:

Bobby ran on for hours about her relationship problems.

,run `out phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) run out of to use all of something and not have any left:

Some hospitals are running out of blood supplies.

2. ) if something runs out, you do not have any more of it left:

They returned home from South Africa when their money ran out.

3. ) if time is running out, you do not have long to do something

4. ) if an official agreement or document runs out, it stops being legal at a certain date: EXPIRE:

My contract runs out next July.

When does your passport run out?

5. ) if a pen runs out, it has no more ink left in it

run someone out of town OLD-FASHIONED

to make a criminal or a person you do not like leave a town

,run `out on phrasal verb transitive

run out on someone to suddenly leave your wife, husband, or partner:

Jane's husband ran out on her when their children were still young.

,run `over phrasal verb

1. ) transitive to hit someone or something with a vehicle and drive over them:

be/get run over: Keeley was run over by a car outside her house.

2. ) transitive run over something to practice what you are going to say in a speech, performance, etc.

3. ) transitive run over something to explain something again so that someone understands:

Would you run over the sequence of events again?

4. ) transitive to think a lot about something, such as a decision or experience:

I couldn't stop running it over in my mind.

5. ) intransitive to continue for longer than planned:

Sorry I'm late, the meeting ran over.

6. ) intransitive if a container runs over, there is too much liquid in it

`run to phrasal verb transitive

1. ) run to someone to ask someone for help, especially when you should not need their help:

Aren't you a little old to run home to your mother?

2. ) run to something to reach a particular amount, especially a large amount:

The cost of the car repairs ran to $300.

The interview transcripts run to over 120 pages.

,run `up phrasal verb transitive

1. ) if you run up a bill or DEBT, you owe someone a lot of money:

My son ran up a huge phone bill.

2. ) to raise a flag to the top of a pole

,run `up a,gainst phrasal verb transitive

run up against someone/something if you run up against problems, difficulties, etc., you have to deal with them:

Our team ran up against a formidable opponent Saturday.

We ran up against a few problems finding enough money.

,run `through phrasal verb transitive

1. ) run through something to explain or read something quickly:

I'll just run through the names and make sure everyone's here.

Do you want me to run through the details with you?

2. ) run through something to practice something so that it is correct for a performance or test:

Let's just run through the piece one more time.

3. ) run through someone/something if a feeling runs through a group of people, they all feel it:

Fear ran through the crowd as a shot was heard.

4. ) run through something if a quality or idea runs through something, you can find it in many parts of that thing:

The theme of jealousy runs through a lot of her work.

There was a lot of bitterness running through their conversation.

5. ) run through something to spend or use a lot of money in a short period of time:

The project ran through $50 million in the first year.

6. ) run someone through LITERARY to push a sword through someone's body

run

run 2 [ rʌn ] noun ***

▸ 1 action of running

▸ 2 period of time

▸ 3 an attempt to be elected

▸ 4 amount produced

▸ 5 baseball/cricket point

▸ 6 a trip

▸ 7 fenced area for animals

▸ 8 area for sliding/skiing

▸ 9 series in card games

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count usually singular the action of running for pleasure or in a sport:

Paula usually takes a shower after her run.

That was a record-breaking run.

go for a run (=run for pleasure): I went for a run after work.

a ) a race in which you must run a long distance:

Lee is doing a six-mile run on Saturday.

b ) at a run at the speed you move when you run:

Jack set off at a run.

2. ) singular a period of time when you continue to succeed or fail, especially in a sport or business:

Pierce has had a fabulous run to the semifinals.

a good/winning/unbeaten run: The Lakers are on an unbeaten run of ten games.

run of: I'm sure we'll continue our run of successful overseas investments.

a ) count a period of time when a play or television program is performed or shown regularly:

a musical that has enjoyed a successful run on Broadway

extend a run (=make it continue for longer): The program has been so successful that its run has been extended.

3. ) count an attempt to be elected to an official job or position:

run for: Lavell has not ruled out a run for the state senate seat.

4. ) count the amount of something that a company or factory produces at one time:

The plates are a limited edition run of 250.

5. ) count one point in the game of baseball:

score a run: Puckett scored three runs in the game.

a ) one point in the game of CRICKET

6. ) singular a trip that a train, ship, etc. does regularly:

A shuttle bus makes the run from the station to the airport.

the school/airport run: I'm doing the school run this morning.

a ) a short trip that you do in a car for pleasure:

We had a very pleasant run to the coast.

7. ) count a small area with a fence around it where animals such as chickens or RABBITS can run around

8. ) count a slope that you can slide down, usually on SKIS:

I started on the beginners' run.

a toboggan run

a ) a shaped object for sliding or rolling something down:

a marble run

9. ) count in card games, a group of cards whose numbers are in a series, for example a 4, 5, and 6

break into a run

to start running:

He walked slowly around the corner and then broke into a run.

a clear run

a situation in which you can continue without anyone or anything stopping your progress

give someone a (good) run for their money

to compete very well against someone so that it is hard for them to defeat you:

A 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 happy:

I've had a good run for my money, but it's time to retire.

have the run of something or have free run of something

to be allowed to go anywhere in a place and do what you want:

The cats have the run of the house.

in the long run

not immediately but at a time in the future:

In the long run, I think you're better off without him.

in the short run

for a short period of time from now:

Most diets produce weight loss only in the short run.

make a run at something

to try to achieve or win something that involves competing with others

make a run for it

to suddenly start running because you want to escape

make a run for something

to run toward something trying to reach it:

Maddie made a run for the exit.

on the run

1. ) trying to hide or escape from someone, especially the police

2. ) in a weak position in an argument, competition, etc.:

The Republicans had the Democrats on the run.

3. ) while you are busy or hurrying:

I had to eat lunch on the run today.

a run of good/bad luck

a period of time when good/bad things happen to you

a run on something

1. ) a situation in which a lot of people want to buy something at the same time:

There's always a run on sunglasses at this time of year.

2. ) a time when a lot of people take their money out of a bank at the same time:

Nervousness from investors led to a run on some banks.

3. ) a situation in which a lot of people sell a particular CURRENCY (=dollars, pounds, yen, etc.) with the result that its value falls

take a run at something

to run toward something, usually to try and jump over it

the usual/general/normal run of something

the usual type of person or thing, or the way that things usually happen:

In the normal run of events, this sort of thing should not happen.

=> BULL RUN, DRY RUN, MILK RUN, RUNS, TEST RUN