run*/*/*/

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

1) to move quickly using your legs and feet

You'll have to run if you want to catch the bus.[/ex]

A cat ran across the road in front of me.[/ex]

I ran to the door and opened it.[/ex]

2) [T] to control and organize something such as a business, organization, or event

Syn:

manage

He was the man who ran Clinton's election campaign.[/ex]

3) [I] if a machine or engine is running, it is operating

Don't leave the car engine running.[/ex]

4) [T] to take someone somewhere in your car

I'll run you there – it's no trouble.[/ex]

John kindly offered to run me into town.[/ex]

5) [I] if a liquid runs somewhere, it flows there

Tears were running down his face.[/ex]

The River Rhine runs into the North Sea.[/ex]

6) [T] to make water flow from or into a container

I'm going to run a bath.[/ex]

7) [I] if a play, film, or television programme runs, it continues to be performed or shown

a soap opera that has been running for many years[/ex]

8) [I] if a bus or train runs, it travels somewhere at regular times

The train only runs at weekends.[/ex]

9) [I] to continue at a particular amount or rate

Inflation is running at 3%.[/ex]

10) [T] to move something through or along something else

Fred ran his fingers gently through her hair.[/ex]

11) [I] if something such as a road or wall runs somewhere, it continues from one place to another

There was a path running through the middle of the forest.[/ex]

12) [I/T] if you run a computer program, or if it runs, you start it or use it

The software will run on any PC.[/ex]

13) [T] if newspapers run an article, advertisement, or photograph, they print it

14) [I] to try to be elected to an official job or position

How many candidates are running?[/ex]

Jackson announced his intention to run for president.[/ex]

15) [I] if a piece of clothing or a colour runs, the colour spreads when you wash it

16) [T] to use and pay for a car

I can't afford to run a car on my salary.[/ex]

17) [T] to perform something such as a test, or to check on someone or something

He'd run a check on her through his London office.[/ex]

•

run rings round sb — to do something much better than someone else[/ex]

running late — if you are running late, you do something or arrive somewhere later than you planned[/ex]

run short/low — if you run short of something, or if you run low on something, you do not have enough of it left[/ex]

[i]We're running low on milk.[/ex]

I'm running short of ideas.[/ex]

sth runs in the family — if something such as a quality or disease runs in the family, a lot of people in the family have it[/ex]

See:

course I

- run across sb/sth

- run after sb/sth

- run around

- run away

- run sth by sb

- run (sth) down

- run sb/sth down

- run into sb

- run into sth

- run into sb/sth

- run off

- run off with sb

- run off with sth

- run out

- run sb/sth over

- run through sth

- run up sth

- run up against sth

- run round

II

noun

run */*/*/[rʌn]

1) [C] an act of running, or a race in which you run a long distance

Lee is doing a six-mile run on Saturday.[/ex]

2) [singular] a period of time when something continues

The play is enjoying a successful run on Broadway.[/ex]

We've had a run of bad luck recently.[/ex]

3) [singular] a journey in a vehicle

We took the new car out for a run in the country.[/ex]

4) [C] the amount of something that a company or factory produces at one time

The plates are a limited edition run of 250.[/ex]

5) [C] one point in the game of CRICKET

He has scored 90 runs in this match.[/ex]

•

in the long run — not immediately but at a time in the future[/ex]

In the long run, I think you're better off without him.[/ex]

in the short run — for a short period of time from now[/ex]

Most diets produce weight loss only in the short run.[/ex]

make a run for sth — to suddenly run towards something and try to reach it[/ex]

Mary made a run for the exit.[/ex]

on the run — trying to hide or escape from the police[/ex]

a run on sth — a situation in which a lot of people want to buy something at the same time[/ex]

See:

runs