(American football) a play in which a player attempts to carry the ball through or past the opposing team
"the defensive line braced to stop the run"
"the coach put great emphasis on running"
the continuous period of time during which something (a machine or a factory) operates or continues in operation
"the assembly line was on a 12-hour run"
the production achieved during a continuous period of operation (of a machine or factory etc.)
"a daily run of 100,000 gallons of paint"
a race between candidates for elective office
"I managed his campaign for governor"
"he is raising money for a Senate run"
the pouring forth of a fluid
"The heavy rain caused the river to run over its banks and flood the nearby fields."
an unbroken chronological sequence
"the play had a long run on Broadway"
"the team enjoyed a brief run of victories"
Act or instance of running, of moving rapidly using the feet.
"After hearing the news, she decided to run down to the park to clear her head before dinner."
In plain English: A run is a sudden, temporary stoppage of something that was working normally.
"The marathon runner finished her run in under two hours."
Usage: Use "run" as a noun to refer to a single act of moving quickly on foot, such as going for a run in the morning. Do not use it for the continuous action itself, which should be described with a verb like "running."
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
"Don't run--you'll be out of breath"
"The children ran to the store"
flee; take to one's heels; cut and run
"If you see this man, run!"
"The burglars escaped before the police showed up"
stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point
"Service runs all the way to Cranbury"
"His knowledge doesn't go very far"
"My memory extends back to my fourth year of life"
"The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets"
move about freely and without restraint, or act as if running around in an uncontrolled way
"who are these people running around in the building?"
"She runs around telling everyone of her troubles"
"let the dogs run free"
make without a miss
"The athlete managed to run every hurdle on the track without making a single mistake."
deal in illegally, such as arms or liquor
"The corrupt officers were arrested for running illegal alcohol through the border tunnels to supply local speakeasies."
sail before the wind
"The yacht began to run before the wind as the sailor adjusted the sails for maximum speed."
set animals loose to graze
"The farmer ran his sheep into the green pasture for them to graze all afternoon."
run with the ball; in such sports as football
"The quarterback scrambled to his feet and ran with the ball down the sideline before being tackled by two defenders."
travel rapidly, by any (unspecified) means
"Run to the store!"
"She always runs to Italy, because she has a lover there"
pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
"Goering often hunted wild boars in Poland"
"The dogs are running deer"
"The Duke hunted in these woods"
To move swiftly.
"The water had run dry before we reached the oasis."
To move forward quickly upon two feet by alternately making a short jump off either foot. (Compare walk.)
past participle of rin
In plain English: To run means to move your legs quickly so you are going faster than walking.
"She needs to run to catch the bus before it leaves."
Usage: Use run to describe moving quickly on foot or operating a machine, not to confuse it with the archaic past participle of "rin." In modern English, always choose run for physical movement or mechanical function unless referring to specific dialectal variations.
In a liquid state; melted or molten.
"The hot lava began to run down the mountain side as it cooled."
In plain English: Run describes something that is moving quickly or flowing freely, like water rushing down a hill.
"The power supply is a run battery that needs to be replaced immediately."
Usage: Use "run" as an adjective only in technical contexts to describe a substance that is in a liquid state or has melted. In everyday conversation, do not use it this way because the word typically functions as a verb meaning to move quickly.
The word "run" entered English from Middle English through an alteration of the original form for "to run." Its ultimate roots trace back to a Proto-Indo-European term meaning "to boil or churn."