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race1 definition

race (rās)

noun

  1. a competition of speed in running, skating, riding, etc.
  2. a series of such competitions for horses, cars, etc. on a regular course
  3. any contest or competition likened to a race the race for mayor, a race for power
  4. a steady onward movement or course
  5. the span of life
    1. a swift current of water
    2. the channel for a current of water, esp. one built to use the water industrially a millrace
  7. a channel or groove for the moving parts of a machine, as the groove for the balls in a ball bearing
  8. Aeron. slipstream

Etymology: ME (North) ras(e) < ON rās, a running, rush, akin to OE ræs, swift movement, attack < IE *eras-, to flow, move rapidly < base *er-, *or-, to set in motion > run, orient

intransitive verb raced, racing rac′·ing

  1. to take part in a competition of speed; run a race
  2. to go or move swiftly
  3. to move or revolve so swiftly as to be out of control, because of less resistance or a lighter load: said of machinery

transitive verb

  1. to compete with in a competition of speed
  2. to enter or run (a horse, etc.) in a race
    1. to cause to go swiftly
    2. to cause (an engine) to run at high speed with the drive gears disengaged
race2 definition

race (rās)

noun

  1. any of the different varieties or populations of human beings distinguished by a) physical traits such as hair, eyes, skin color, body shape, etc.: traditionally, the three primary divisions are Caucasoid, Negroid, and Mongoloid, although many subdivisions of these are also called racesb) blood types c) genetic code patterns d) all their inherited characteristics which are unique to their isolated breeding population
    1. the state of belonging to such a population
    2. the qualities, traits, etc. belonging, or supposedly belonging, to such a population
  3. loosely
    1. any geographical population
    2. any population sharing the same activities, habits, ideas, etc.
  4. any group of people having the same ancestry; family; clan; lineage
  5. Biol.
    1. a subspecies, or variety
    2. breed ()
  6. Rare distinctive flavor, taste, etc., as of wine

Etymology: Fr < It razza < ?

race Idioms

the (human) race

all people collectively

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms race idiom

medical race definition - medical

telecom RACE definition - telecom

race Synonyms

race

n.

  1. A physical division of humankind

    species, stock, variety, type, kind, strain, breed, family, color; see also man 1.

    The general divisions of the human race are: Caucasoid, Caucasian, white, Negroid, black, Mongoloid, yellow.

  2. Roughly, people united by blood or custom

    nationality, culture, cultural group, ethnic group, caste, variety, type, a people, humankind, mankind, tribe, sect, group, ethnic stock, human race, class, population connected by common descent, kind, nation, folk, gene pool, pedigree, lineage, community, inhabitants, population, populace, clan, breeding population; see also culture 2, heredity, society 2.

  3. A contest, usually of speed

    competition, run, dash, sprint, relay, marathon, clash, meet, event, engagement, competitive trial of speed, scurry, spurt, clip, pursuit, rush, footrace, horse race, dog race, automobile race, road race, road rally, drag race, motocross, steeplechase, handicap, round pace, chase, match, heat, lap, concours (French), derby, regatta, sweepstakes, turf, track, speedfest*; see also sport 3.

    Famous races include --- automobile: Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, World Grand Prix, New Zealand Grand Prix, Australian Grand Prix, Sebring 12-Hour Endurance Race, Pan Formula Two Grand Prix, Targa Florio Road Race, Grand Prix of Monaco, Monte Carlo Rally, Nürburgring Sports Car Race, Grand Prix of Belgium, Le Mans 24-Hour Race, Grand Prix of France, European Grand Prix, Dutch Grand Prix, Grand Prix of Italy, British Grand Prix, German Grand Prix, United States Road Racing Championship; horse: Kentucky Derby, Grand National, Derby, Belmont Stakes, Aqueduct Stakes, Preakness Stakes, Breeders' Cup, Hambletonian (harness), Man O'War Stakes, San Juan Capistrano Handicap, American Derby, Arlington Classic; yacht: America's Cup, Admiral's Cup, Bacardi Cup Sailing Championship, St. Petersburg-Fort Lauderdale Race, Lipton Cup Race, Newport-Bermuda Yacht Race, One Ton Cup; bicycle: Tour de France, World Road Race Championship, Tour d'Italie, New York Six-Day, Tour of Marin, Montreal Six-Day, U.S. National Championships, Tour de St. Laurent, Tour de Mexico; marathons: Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, London Marathon.

  4. Famous racetracks include: horse: Epsom Downs, Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, Pimlico Track, Hialeah Park, Aintree, Saratoga, Leopardstown, Longchamp Racecourse, Gavea, Ascot, Siena; automobile: Sebring, Monza, Le Mans, Indianapolis, Bonneville, Brands Hatch, Silverstone.


race

v.

  1. To move at great speed

    speed, hurry, run, pursue, chase, tear, tear around, bustle, spurt, press on, dash, run swiftly, hasten, trip, fly, flit, hustle, hie, scud, scorch, rush, sprint, swoop, scuttle, scurry, dart, scamper, hurtle, plunge ahead, whiz, zoom, bolt, scramble, whisk, shoot, post, skim, bowl along, ride hard, hotfoot it*, high-tail it*, make tracks*, barrel*, run like mad*, crowd sail*, wing one's way*, outstrip the wind*, burn up the road*, gun the motor*, step on it*, get the lead out*, skedaddle*, scoot*. *

  2. To compete

    run a race, compete in a race, contend, follow a course, engage in a contest of speed, enter a competition, run, sprint, race-walk, gallop.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

race Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • win: However Emmett passed him downwind to win the last race.

Adjective modifier

  • human: The human race evolved on a diet with a ratio of about 1:1 of these acids.

Modifies a noun

  • equality: Posters produced by the pupils on the issue of race equality were entered.

Noun used with modifier

  • arm: During the FC, a special session was devoted to ' prevention of an arms race in outer space ' on Tuesday October 19.
race usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

race quotes

We must protect big business from domination by fat- minded men whose principal business policy is to avoid a competitive race for efficiency† They believe in a system of soft enterprise,ösoft in the way that an octopus is soft, with tentacles that stifle and suffocate.

-Arnold,ThurmanWesley

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

-Bible (Old Testament)

   Know ye not thatthey whichrun ina racerun all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

-Bible (NewTestament)

race quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"race." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/race>

APA Style

race. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/race

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