intransitive verb ran or Dialectalrun, run, running run′·ning

1. to go by moving the legs rapidly, faster than in walking, and (in a two-legged animal) in such a way that for an instant both feet are off the ground
2. 1. to go rapidly; move swiftly
   2. to resort (to) for aid always running to the police
3. to associate or consort (with)
4. to go, move, grow, etc. easily and freely, without hindrance or restraint
5. to go away rapidly; flee
6. to make a quick trip (up to, down to, over to, etc. a specified place) for a brief stay
7. 1. to take part in a contest or race
   2. ☆ to be a candidate in an election
8. to finish a contest or race in the specified position to run last
9. to swim in migration, as upstream or inshore for spawning, etc.: said of fish
10. to go, as on a schedule; ply between two points a bus that runs between Chicago and Detroit
11. to go or pass lightly and rapidly his eyes ran over the page
12. to be current; circulate a rumor running through the town
13. to climb or creep: said of plants a vine running over the wall
14. to move continuously or incessantly: often used figuratively his tongue ran on and on
15. to ravel lengthwise in a knitted fabric
16. to function or operate with or as with parts that revolve, slide, etc. a machine that is running
17. to recur or return to the mind
18. to flow a running stream
19. to melt and flow the wax ran
20. 1. to spread when put on a surface, as a liquid
    2. to spread over or be diffused through cloth, etc. when moistened, as colors
    3. to be subject to such spreading of color, as fabric
21. to be wet or covered with a flow eyes running with tears
22. to give passage to a fluid; specif.,
    1. to discharge pus, mucus, etc.
    2. to leak, as a faucet
23. to elapse the days ran into weeks
24. 1. to appear in print, as in a newspaper
    2. to appear or be presented continuously or in a continuing series a play that ran for a year
25. 1. to continue in effect or force a law running for twenty years
    2. to continue to occur; recur talent runs in the family
26. to be characterized by having, producing, using, etc.: with to their taste runs to exotic foods
27. 1. to extend in or as in a continuous line a fence running through the woods
    2. to include so as to show variety: with from and to a repertoire running from tragedy to comedy
28. to pass into a specified condition, situation, etc. to run into trouble
29. to sail or float (aground, etc.): said of a ship
30. to be written, expressed, played, etc. in a specified way the adage runs like this
31. to be or continue at a specified size, price, amount, etc. apples running four to the pound
32. Naut. to sail with the wind coming from astern

Etymology: altered (with vowel prob. infl. by pp.) < ME rinnen, rennen < ON & OE: ON rinna, to flow, run, renna, to cause to run (< Gmc *rannjan); OE rinnan, iornan: both < Gmc *renwo < IE base *er-, to set in motion, excite > raise, L origo, origin

transitive verb

1. to run along or follow (a specified course or route)
2. to travel over; cover by running, driving, etc. horses ran the range
3. to do or perform by or as by running to run a race
4. to subject oneself to (a risk); incur
5. ☆
   1. to get past or escape by going through to run a blockade
   2. to go past or through without making a required stop to run a stop sign or a red light
6. to pursue or hunt (game, etc.)
7. to compete with in or as in a race; vie with
8. 1. to enter (a horse, etc.) in a race
   2. ☆ to put up or support as a candidate for election
9. 1. to make run, move, operate, etc.
   2. to cause to go between points, as on a schedule
   3. to cause (a motor or engine) to idle for a while
   4. to make (a stocking) run
10. to bring, lead, or force into a specified condition, situation, etc. by or as by running to run oneself into debt
11. 1. to carry or convey, as in a ship or vehicle; transport
    2. to carry (taxable or outlawed goods) in or out illegally; smuggle
12. to drive, force, or thrust (an object) into, through, or against (something)
13. to make go, move, pass, flow, etc., esp. rapidly, in a specified way, direction, place, etc. to run water into a glass
14. 1. ☆ to be in charge of; manage to run a household
    2. ☆ to keep, feed, or graze (livestock)
    3. to perform the steps of (an experiment, test, etc.)
    4. to cause to undergo a test, procedure, process, etc.
15. to cost (an amount) boots that run $20
16. to mark, draw, or trace (lines, as on a map)
17. to extend, pass, or trace in a specified way or direction to run a story back to its source
18. to undergo or be affected by (a fever, etc.)
19. to flow with, discharge, or pour forth gutters running blood
20. to melt, fuse, or smelt (ore)
21. to cast or mold, as from molten metal; found
22. ☆ to print; esp., to publish (an advertisement, story, etc.) in a newspaper or magazine
23. Billiards to complete successfully (a specified number of strokes, shots, etc.) in uninterrupted sequence
24. Bridge to lead consecutively the remaining cards of (an established suit)
25. Comput. to cause (a program, software, etc.) to operate or start operating
26. Golf to cause (a ball) to roll, esp. on a green

noun

1. an act or period of running or moving rapidly
2. 1. a race for runners
   2. a running pace; rapid gait
   3. capacity for running
3. the distance covered or time spent in running
4. a trip; journey; esp.,
   1. a single, customary, or regular trip, as of a train, ship, or plane
   2. a quick trip, esp. for a brief stay
   3. route (sense )
5. 1. movement onward, progression, or trend the run of events
   2. a continuous course or period of a specified condition, action, etc. a run of good luck
6. direction or course, as of the grain of wood, a vein of ore, etc.
7. a continuous course of performances, showings, etc. a play that had a run of a year
8. a series of continued, sudden, or urgent requests or demands, as by customers for certain goods, or by bank depositors for their funds
9. a period of being in public demand or favor
10. a continuous series or sequence, as three or more cards in unbroken order in one suit
11. a continuous extent of something
12. a flow or rush of water, etc., as of the tide
13. a small, swift stream, as a brook or rivulet
14. 1. a period during which some fluid flows readily
    2. the amount of flow
    3. Slang diarrhea: with the
15. 1. a period of operation of a machine
    2. the output during this period
16. 1. a kind, sort, or class, as of goods
    2. the ordinary, usual, or average kind or type
17. something in, on, or along which something else runs; specif.,
    1. an inclined pathway or course a ski run
    2. a track, channel, trough, pipe, etc.
    3. an enclosed area in which domestic animals or fowl can move about freely or feed a chicken run
    4. in Australia, a large grazing area or ranch
    5. a well-defined trail or path made and used by animals a buffalo run
18. freedom to use all the facilities or move freely in any part (of a place) to have the run of an estate
19. 1. a number of animals in motion together
    2. a large number of fish migrating together, as upstream or inshore for spawning
    3. such migration of fish
20. ☆ a ravel lengthwise in something knitted, as in hosiery
21. ☆ Baseball a point scored whenever a base runner successfully touches all four bases in the proper order without being out
22. Billiards an uninterrupted sequence of successful strokes, shots, etc.
23. Cricket a scoring point, made by a successful running of both batsmen from one wicket to the other
24. Mil. the approach to the target made by an airplane in bombing, strafing, etc.
25. Comput. one execution of a program
26. Music a rapid succession of tones, as a roulade
27. Naut. the after part of a ship's bottom, from where it starts to curve up and in toward the stern

adjective

1. melted; made liquid
2. poured or molded while in a melted state run metal
3. drained or extracted, as honey
4. having migrated and spawned: said of fish