run

Universal Words verb, noun verb (running, ran run) move fast on foot 1 [V] to move using your legs, going faster than when you walk: Can you run as fast as Mike? * They turned and ran when they saw us coming. * She came running to meet us. * I had to run to catch the bus. * The dogs ran off as soon as we appeared. * He ran home in tears to his mother. HELPNOTE In spoken English run can be used with and plus another verb, instead of with to and the infinitive, especially to tell somebody to hurry and do something: Run and get your swimsuits, kids. * I ran and knocked on the nearest door. 2 [VN] to travel a particular distance by running: Who was the first person to run a mile in under four minutes? seealsoMILE 3 [V] (sometimes go running) to run as a sport: She used to run when she was at college. * I often go running before work. race 4 ~ (in sth) to take part in a race: [V] Gail Devers will be running in the 100 metres tonight. * There are only five horses running in the first race. * [VN] to run the marathon * Johnson ran a fine race to take the gold medal. seealsoRUNNER(1) 5 [VN] [oftenpassive] to make a race take place: The Derby will be run in spite of the bad weather. hurry 6 [V+adv./prep.] to hurry from one place to another: I've spent the whole day running around after the kids. manage 7 [VN] to be in charge of a business, etc: to run a hotel / store / language school * He has no idea how to run a business. * Stop trying to run my life (= organize it) for me. * The shareholders want more say in how the company is run. * a badly-run company * state-run industries seealsoRUNNINGn.(2) provide 8 [VN] to make a service, course of study, etc. available to people SYNORGANIZE: The college runs summer courses for foreign students. vehicle / machine 9 [VN] to own and use a vehicle or machine: I can't afford to run a car on my salary. 10 ~ (on sth) to operate or function; to make sth do this: [V] Stan had the chainsaw running. * Our van runs on (= uses) diesel. * (figurative) Her life had always run smoothly before. * [VN] Could you run the engine for a moment? buses / trains 11 [V] [usually +adv./prep.] to travel on a particular route: Buses to Oxford run every half-hour. * Trains between London and Brighton run throughout the day. * All the trains are running late (= are leaving later than planned). 12 [VN] [usually +adv./prep.] to make buses, trains, etc. travel on a particular route: They run extra trains during the rush hour. drive sb 13 [VN+adv./prep.] (informal) to drive sb to a place in a car: Shall I run you home? move somewhere 14 [V+adv./prep.] to move, especially quickly, in a particular direction: The car ran off the road into a ditch. * A shiver ran down my spine. * The sledge ran smoothly over the frozen snow. * The old tramlines are still there but now no trams run on them. 15 [VN+adv./prep.] to move sth in a particular direction: She ran her fingers nervously through her hair. * I ran my eyes over the page. lead / stretch 16 [+adv./prep.] to lead or stretch from one place to another; to make sth do this: [V] He had a scar running down his left cheek. * The road runs parallel to the river. * [VN] We ran a cable from the lights to the stage. continue for time 17 [V] ~ (for sth) to continue for a particular period of time without stopping: Her last musical ran for six months on Broadway. * This debate will run and run! 18 [V] ~ (for sth) to operate or be valid for a particular period of time: The permit runs for three months. * The lease on my house only has a year left to run. happen 19 [V+adv./prep.] (usually used in the progressive tenses) to happen at the time mentioned: Programmes are running a few minutes behind schedule this evening. * The murderer was given three life sentences, to run concurrently. guns, drugs, etc. 20 [VN] [usually +adv./prep.] to bring or take sth into a country illegally and secretly SYNSMUGGLE: He used to run guns across the border. seealsoRUNNER of story / argument 21 to have particular words, contents, etc: [V] Their argument ran something like this... * [Vspeech] 'Ten shot dead by gunmen,' ran the newspaper headline. liquid 22 [V+adv./prep.] to flow: The tears ran down her cheeks. * Water was running all over the bathroom floor. 23 ~ sth (for sb)