Move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time

• - the dog ran across the road

• - she ran the last few yards, breathing heavily

• - he hasn't paid for his drinks—run and catch him

Run as a sport or for exercise

• - I run every morning

(of an athlete or a racehorse) Compete in a race

• - she ran in the 200 meters

• - Dave has run 42 marathons

Enter (a racehorse) for a race

(of a batter or base runner) Attempt to advance to the next base

(of hounds) Chase or hunt their quarry

(of a boat) Sail directly before the wind, esp. in bad weather

(of a migratory fish) Go upriver from the sea in order to spawn

Move about in a hurried and hectic way

• - I've spent the whole day running around after the kids

Have rapid recourse to (someone) for support or help

• - don't come running to me for a handout

Pass or cause to pass quickly or smoothly in a particular direction

• - the rumor ran through the pack of photographers

• - Helen ran her fingers through her hair

Move or cause to move somewhere forcefully or with a particular result

• - the tanker ran aground off the Aleutian Islands

• - a woman ran a stroller into the back of my legs

Fail to stop at (a red traffic light)

Navigate (rapids or a waterfall) in a boat

Extend or cause to extend in a particular direction

• - cobbled streets run down to a tiny harbor

• - he ran a wire under the carpet

(of a quality or trait) Be common or inherent in members of (a particular family), esp. over several generations

• - weight problems run in my family

Pass into or reach a specified state or level

• - inflation is running at 11 percent

• - the decision ran counter to previous government commitments

(of a liquid) Flow in a specified direction

• - tears were running down her face

Cause (a liquid) to flow

• - she ran cold water into the sink

Cause water to flow over (something)

• - I ran my hands under the faucet

Fill (a bath) with water

• - I'll run you a nice hot bath

Be covered or streaming with (a particular liquid)

• - his face was running with sweat

Emit or exude a liquid

• - she was weeping loudly, and her nose was running

(of a solid substance) Melt and become fluid

• - it was so hot that the butter ran

(of the sea, the tide, or a river) Rise higher or flow more quickly

• - there was still a heavy sea running

(of dye or color in fabric or paper) Dissolve and spread when the fabric or paper becomes wet

• - the red dye ran when the socks were washed

(of a stocking or pair of tights) Develop a ravel

(of a bus, train, ferry, or other form of transportation) Make a regular journey on a particular route

• - buses run into town every half hour

Put (a particular form of public transportation) in service

• - the group is drawing up plans to run trains on key routes

Take (someone) somewhere in a car

• - I'll run you home

Be in charge of; manage

• - Andrea runs her own catering business

• - an attractive family-run hotel

(of a system, organization, or plan) Operate or proceed in a particular way

• - everything's running according to plan

Organize and make available for other people

• - we decided to run a series of seminars

Carry out (a test or procedure)

• - he asked the army to run tests on the anti nerve-gas pills

Own, maintain, and use (a vehicle)

Be in or cause to be in operation; function or cause to function

• - the car runs on unleaded fuel

• - a number of peripherals can be run off one SCSI port

Move or cause to move between the spools of a recording machine

• - I ran the tape back

• - the tape has run out

Continue or be valid or operative for a particular period of time

• - the course ran for two days

• - this particular debate will run on and on

Happen or arrive at the specified time

• - the program was running fifteen minutes late

(of a play or exhibition) Be staged or presented

• - the play ran on Broadway last year

Be a candidate in a political election

• - he announced that he intended to run for President

(esp. of a political party) Sponsor (a candidate) in an election

• - they ran their first candidate for the school board

Publish or be published in a newspaper or magazine

• - the tabloids ran the story

• - when the story ran, there was a big to-do

(of a story, argument, or piece of writing) Have a specified wording or contents

• - “Tapestries slashed!” ran the dramatic headline

Bring (goods) into a country illegally and secretly; smuggle

• - they run drugs for the cocaine cartels

(of an object or act) Cost (someone) (a specified amount)

• - a new photocopier will run us about $1,300

An act or spell of running

• - I usually go for a run in the morning

• - a cross-country run

A running pace

• - Bobby set off at a run

An opportunity or attempt to achieve something

• - their absence means the Russians will have a clear run at the title

A preliminary test of the efficiency of a procedure or system

• - if you are styling your hair yourself, have a practice run

An attempt to secure election to political office

• - his run for the Republican nomination

An annual mass migration of fish up a river to spawn, or their return migration afterward

• - the annual salmon runs

A journey accomplished or route taken by a vehicle, aircraft, or boat, esp. on a regular basis

• - the New York-Washington run

A short excursion made in a car

• - we could take a run out to the country

The distance covered in a specified period, esp. by a ship

• - a 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 bombs

A point scored when a base runner reaches home plate after touching the other bases

A point scored by hitting the ball so that both batsmen are able to run between the wickets, or awarded in some other circumstances

A continuous spell of a particular situation or condition

• - he's had a run of bad luck

A continuous series of performances

• - the play had a long run on Broadway

A quantity or amount of something produced at one time

• - a production run of only 150 cars

A continuous stretch or length of something

• - long runs of copper piping

A rapid series of musical notes forming a scale

A sequence of cards of the same suit

A widespread and sudden or continuous demand for (a particular currency or commodity)

• - 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 lenders

• - growing nervousness among investors led to a run on some banks

Free and unrestricted use of or access to

• - her cats were given the run of the house

The average or usual type of person or thing

• - she stood out from the general run of varsity cheerleaders

An enclosed area in which domestic animals or birds can run freely in the open

• - a chicken run

A track made or regularly used by a particular animal

• - a badger run

A sloping snow-covered course or track used for skiing, bobsledding, or tobogganing

• - a ski run

A large open stretch of land used for pasture or the raising of stock

• - one of the richest cattle runs of the district

A line of unraveled stitches in stockings or tights

A downward trickle of paint or a similar substance when applied too thickly

A small stream or brook

Diarrhea

The after part of a ship's bottom where it rises and narrows toward the stern