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[ran] /ræn/

verb
1.
simple past tense of .
[rahn] /rɑn/
noun, Scandinavian Mythology.
1.
a sea goddess who drags down ships and drowns sailors: the wife of Aegir.
[ruhn] /rʌn/
verb (used without object), ran, run, running.
1.
to go quickly by moving the legs more rapidly than at a walk and in such a manner that for an instant in each step all or both feet are off the ground.
2.
to move with haste; act quickly:
Run upstairs and get the iodine.
3.
to depart quickly; take to flight; flee or escape:
to run from danger.
4.
to have recourse for aid, support, comfort, etc.:
He shouldn’t run to his parents with every little problem.
5.
to make a quick trip or informal visit for a short stay at a place:
to run up to New York; I will run over to see you after dinner.
6.
to go around, rove, or ramble without restraint (often followed by about):
to run about in the park.
7.
to move, roll, or progress from momentum or from being hurled, kicked, or otherwise propelled:
The wheel ran over the curb and into the street.
8.
Sports.

9.
to be or campaign as a candidate for election.
10.
to migrate, as fish:
to run in huge shoals.
11.
to migrate upstream or inshore from deep water to spawn.
12.
to move under continuing power or force, as of the wind, a motor, etc.:
The car ran along the highway.
13.
(of a ship, automobile, etc.) to be sailed or driven from a safe, proper, or given route:
The ship ran aground.
14.
to ply between places, as a vessel or conveyance:
This bus runs between New Haven and Hartford.
15.
to move, glide, turn, rotate, or pass easily, freely, or smoothly:
A rope runs in a pulley.
16.
to creep, trail, or climb, as growing vines:
The ivy ran up the side of the house.
17.
to come undone or to unravel, as stitches or a fabric:
these stockings run easily.
18.
to flow, as a liquid:
Let the water run before you drink it.
19.
to flow along, especially strongly, as a stream or the sea:
The rapids ran over the rocks.
20.
to empty or transfer contents:
The river ran into the sea.
21.
to appear, occur, or exist within a certain limited range; include a specific range of variations (usually followed by from):
Your work runs from fair to bad.
22.
to melt and flow or drip:
Wax ran down the burning candle.
23.
Golf. (of a golf ball) to bounce or roll along the ground just after landing from a stroke:
The ball struck the green and ran seven feet past the hole.
24.
to spread on being applied to a surface, as a liquid:
Fresh paint ran over the window molding onto the pane.
25.
to spread over a material when exposed to moisture:
The dyes in this fabric are guaranteed not to run in washing.
26.
to undergo a spreading of colors:
materials that run when washed.
27.
to flow forth as a discharge:
Tears ran from her eyes.
28.
to discharge or give passage to a liquid or fluid:
Her eyes ran with tears.
29.
to operate or function:
How does your new watch run? Cars run on gasoline.
30.
to be in operation:
the noise of a dishwasher running.
31.
to continue in operation:
The furnace runs most of the day.
32.
to elapse; pass or go by, as time:
Time is running out, and we must hurry.
33.
to pass into or meet with a certain state or condition:
to run into debt; to run into trouble.
34.
to get or become:
The well ran dry.
35.
to amount; total:
The bill ran to $100.
36.
to be stated or worded in a certain manner:
The minutes of the last meeting run as follows.
37.
Commerce.

38.
Law.

39.
to proceed, continue, or go:
The story runs for eight pages.
40.
to extend in a given direction:
This road runs north to Litchfield.
41.
to extend for a certain length:
The unpaved section runs for eight miles.
42.
to extend over a given surface:
Shelves ran from floor to ceiling.
43.
to be printed, as on a printing press:
Two thousand copies ran before the typo was caught.
44.
to appear in print or be published as a story, photograph, etc., in a newspaper, magazine, or the like:
The account ran in all the papers. The political cartoon always runs on the editorial page.
45.
to be performed on a stage or be played continually, as a play:
The play ran for two years.
46.
to occur or take place continuously, as a movie:
The picture runs for two hours.
47.
to pass quickly:
A thought ran through his mind. Her eyes ran over the room.
48.
to be disseminated, circulated, or spread rapidly:
The news of his promotion ran all over town.
49.
to continue or return persistently; recur:
The old tune ran through his mind all day.
50.
to have or tend to have or produce a specified character, quality, form, etc.:
This novel runs to long descriptions. Her sister is fat too, but the family runs to being overweight.
51.
to be or continue to be of a certain or average size, number, etc.:
Potatoes are running large this year.
52.
Nautical. to sail before the wind.
verb (used with object), ran, run, running.
53.
to move or run along (a surface, way, path, etc.):
Every morning he ran the dirt path around the reservoir to keep in condition. She ran her fingers over the keyboard.
54.
to traverse (a distance) in running:
He ran the mile in just over four minutes.
55.
to perform, compete in, or accomplish by or as by running:
to run a race; to run an errand.
56.
to go about freely on or in without supervision:
permitting children to run the streets.
57.
to ride or cause to gallop:
to run a horse across a field.
58.
to enter in a race:
He ran his best filly in the Florida Derby.
59.
to bring into a certain state by running:
He ran himself out of breath trying to keep pace.
60.
to trace, track, pursue or hunt, as game:
to run deer on foot.
61.
to drive (an animal) or cause to go by pursuing:
to run a fox to cover; to run the stallion into the barn.
62.
to leave, flee, or escape from:
He ran town before the robbery was discovered.
63.
to cause to ply between places, as a vessel or conveyance:
to run a ferry between New York and New Jersey.
64.
to convey or transport, as in a vessel or vehicle:
I’ll run you home in my car.
65.
to cause to pass quickly:
He ran his eyes over the letter. She ran a comb through her hair.
66.
to get past or through:
to run a blockade.
67.
(of drivers or cyclists) to disregard (a red or amber traffic light) and continue ahead without stopping.
68.
to smuggle (contraband goods):
to run guns across the border.
69.
to work, operate, or drive:
Can you run a tractor?
70.
to publish, print, or make copies of, as on a printing press (sometimes followed by off):
Run off 3000 of these posters. The newspapers ran the story on page one.
71.
to process, refine, manufacture, or subject to an analysis or treatment:
The doctor wanted to run a blood test. The factory ran 50,000 gallons of paint a day.
72.
to keep operating or going, as a machine:
They ran the presses 24 hours a day.
73.
to keep (a motor) idling for an indefinite period:
On cold days he would run the car motor to prevent stalling.
74.
to allow (a ship, automobile, etc.) to depart from a safe, proper, or given route, as by negligence or error:
He ran the ship aground. She ran the car up on the curb.
75.
to sponsor, support, or nominate (a person) as a candidate for election.
76.
to manage or conduct:
to run a business; to run one’s own life.
77.
Computers. to process (the instructions in a program) by computer.
78.
(in some games, as billiards) to continue or complete a series of successful strokes, shots, or the like.
79.
Cards. to lead a series (of one’s assured tricks or winners in a given suit):
He ran the heart suit before leading spades.
80.
to expose oneself to or be exposed to (a chance, risk, etc.):
Through his habitual lateness he ran the danger of being fired.
81.
to cause (a liquid) to flow:
to run the water for a bath.
82.
to fill (a tub or bath) with water:
She ran a hot tub for him.
83.
to give forth or flow with (a liquid); pour forth or discharge:
The well ran 500 barrels of oil daily.
84.
to charge (an item or items) as on a charge account or to accumulate (bills) to be paid all at one time:
He ran a large monthly tab at the club.
85.
to cause to move easily, freely, or smoothly:
to run a rope in a pulley.
86.
Golf. to cause (a golf ball) to move forward along the ground after landing from a stroke:
He ran his ball seven feet past the hole.
87.
to sew or use a :
to run a seam.
88.
to cause stitches in (a garment or fabric) to unravel or come undone:
to run a stocking on a protruding nail.
89.
to bring, lead, or force into a certain state or condition:
He ran his troops into an ambush. They ran themselves into debt.
90.
to drive, force, or thrust:
to run a nail into a board; to run one’s head against a wall; to run one’s hand into one’s pocket.
91.
to graze; pasture:
They run sixty head of cattle on their ranch.
92.
to extend (something) in a particular direction or to a given point or place:
to run a partition across a room; to run a telephone cable from Boston to Buffalo.
93.
Carpentry. to make (millwork) from boards.
94.
to cause to fuse and flow, as metal for casting in a mold.
95.
to draw, trace, or mark out, as a line:
to run a line over a surface; to run a line through a word.
96.
to cost (an amount or approximate amount):
This watch runs $30.
97.
to cost (a person) an amount or approximate amount:
The car repair will run you a couple of hundred at least.
noun
98.
an act or instance, or a period of running:
a five-minute run before breakfast.
99.
a hurrying to or from some point, as on an errand:
a run to reach the store before it closes.
100.
a fleeing, especially in great haste; flight:
a run from the police who were hot on his trail.
101.
a running pace:
The boys set out at a run.
102.
an act or instance or a period of moving rapidly, as in a boat or automobile:
a run to shore before the storm.
103.
distance covered, as by racing, running, or during a trip:
a three-mile run.
104.
an act or instance or a period of traveling or moving between two places; trip:
a truck on its daily run from farm to market; a nonstop run from Louisville to Memphis.
105.
Computers. a single instance of carrying out the sequence of instructions in a program.
106.
Golf. the distance that a golf ball moves along the ground after landing from a stroke:
He got a seven-foot run with his chip shot.
107.
a quick trip for a short stay at a place:
to take a run up to New York.
108.
Military.

109.
Aeronautics.

110.
Journalism. (def 40b).
111.
an interval or period during which something, as a machine, operates or continues operating:
They kept each press in the plant on a 14-hour run.
112.
the amount of anything produced in such a period:
a daily run of 400,000 gallons of paint.
113.
.
114.
a line or place in knitted work where a series of stitches have slipped out or come undone:
a run in a stocking.
115.
onward movement, development, progress, course, etc.:
the run of our business from a small store to a large chain.
116.
the direction of something or of its component elements:
the run of the grain of wood.
117.
the particular course, order, or tendency of something:
the normal run of events.
118.
freedom to move around in, pass through, or use something:
to allow one’s guests the run of the house.
119.
any rapid or easy course of progress:
a run from trainee to supervisor.
120.
a continuous series of performances, as of a play:
a long run on Broadway.
121.
an uninterrupted course of some state or condition; a spell:
a run of good luck; a run of good weather.
122.
a continuous extent of something, as a vein of ore.
123.
an uninterrupted series or sequence of things, events, etc.:
a run of 30 scoreless innings.
124.
a sequence of cards in a given suit:
a heart run.
125.
Cribbage. a sequence of three or more cards in consecutive denominations without regard to suits.
126.
any extensive continued demand, sale, or the like:
a run on umbrellas on a rainy day.
127.
a series of sudden and urgent demands for payment, as on a bank.
128.
a period of being in demand or favor with the public:
Her last book had a briefer run than her first.
129.
a period during which liquid flows:
They kept each oil well on an eight-hour run.
130.
the amount that flows during such a period:
a run of 500 barrels a day.
131.
a small stream; brook; rivulet.
132.
a flow or rush, as of water:
The snow melting on the mountains caused a run of water into the valley.
133.
a kind or class, as of goods:
a superior run of blouses.
134.
the typical, ordinary, or average kind:
The run of 19th-century novels tends to be of a sociological nature.
135.
an inclined course, as on a slope, designed or used for a specific purpose:
a bobsled run; a run for training beginning skiers.
136.
a fairly large enclosure within which domestic animals may move about freely; runway:
a chicken run.
137.
Australian. a large sheep ranch or area of grazing land.
138.
the beaten track or usual trail used by deer or other wild animals; runway.
139.
a trough or pipe for water or the like.
140.
the movement of a number of fish upstream or inshore from deep water.
141.
large numbers of fish in motion, especially inshore from deep water or up a river for spawning:
a run of salmon.
142.
a number of animals moving together.
143.
Music. a rapid succession of tones; roulade.
144.
Building Trades.

145.
Baseball. the score unit made by safely running around all the bases and reaching home plate.
146.
a series of successful shots, strokes, or the like, in a game.
147.
Nautical. the immersed portion of a hull abaft the middle body (opposed to ).
148.
the runs, (used with a singular or plural verb) Informal. .
adjective
149.
melted or liquefied:
run butter.
150.
poured in a melted state; run into and cast in a mold:
run bronze.
Verb phrases
151.
run across, to meet or find accidentally:
She ran across an old friend at the party. He ran across her name in the phone book.
152.
run after,

153.
run along, to leave; go on one’s way:
I have to run along now, but I’ll see you tonight. Run along—can’t you see I’m busy?
154.
run around,

155.
run away,

156.
run away with,

157.
run down,

158.
run in,

159.
run into,

160.
run in with, Nautical. to sail close to (a coast, vessel, etc.).
161.
run off,

162.
run off with,

163.
run on,

164.
run out,

165.
run out of, to exhaust a quantity or supply of:
She couldn’t bake a cake because she had run out of sugar.
166.
run out on, to withdraw one’s support from; abandon:
No one could accuse him of running out on his friends.
167.
run over,

168.
run through,

169.
run up,

170.
run with, Informal.

Idioms
171.
a run for one’s money,

172.
in the long run, in the course of long experience; in the end:
Retribution will come, in the long run.
173.
in the short run, as an immediate or temporary outcome:
Recession may be averted in the short run if policy changes are made now.
174.
on the run,

175.
run afoul of,

176.
run for it, to hurry away or flee, especially to evade something:
You had better run for it before anyone else arrives.
177.
run in place,

178.
run out of gas, Informal.

179.
run scared, to be thrown into a state of fear or uncertainty because of a perceived threat; be apprehensive about survival or the future:
Many businesses are running scared because of increasing competition.
/ræn/
verb
1.
the past tense of run
abbreviation
1.
Royal Australian Navy
/rʌn/
verb runs, running, ran, run
1.
(intransitive)

2.
(transitive) to pass over (a distance, route, etc) in running: to run a mile, run a race
3.
(intransitive) to run in or finish a race as specified, esp in a particular position: John is running third
4.
(transitive) to perform or accomplish by or as if by running: to run an errand
5.
(intransitive) to flee; run away: they took to their heels and ran
6.
(transitive) to bring into a specified state or condition by running: to run oneself to a standstill
7.
(transitive) to track down or hunt (an animal): to run a fox to earth
8.
(intransitive) to move about freely and without restraint: the children are running in the garden
9.
(intransitive) usually foll by to. to go or have recourse, as for aid, assistance, etc: he’s always running to his mother when he’s in trouble
10.
(transitive) to set (animals) loose on (a field or tract of land) so as to graze freely
11.
(intransitive; often foll by over, round or up) to make a short trip or brief informal visit: I’ll run over to your house this afternoon
12.
to move quickly and easily on wheels by rolling, or in any of certain other ways: a ball running along the ground, a sledge running over snow
13.
to move or cause to move with a specified result or in a specified manner: to run a ship aground, to run into a tree
14.
(often foll by over) to move or pass or cause to move or pass quickly: to run a vacuum cleaner over the carpet, to run one’s eyes over a page
15.
(transitive; foll by into, out of, through, etc) to force, thrust, or drive: she ran a needle into her finger
16.
(transitive) to drive or maintain and operate (a vehicle)
17.
(transitive) to give a lift to (someone) in a vehicle; transport: he ran her to the railway station
18.
to ply or cause to ply between places on a route: the bus runs from Piccadilly to Golders Green
19.
to operate or be operated; function or cause to function: the engine is running smoothly
20.
(transitive) to perform or carry out: to run tests
21.
(transitive) to be in charge of; manage: to run a company
22.
to extend or continue or cause to extend or continue in a particular direction, for a particular duration or distance, etc: the road runs north, the play ran for two years, the months ran into years
23.
(intransitive) (law)

24.
(transitive) to be subjected to, be affected by, or incur: to run a risk, run a temperature
25.
(intransitive) often foll by to. to be characterized (by); tend or incline: her taste runs to extravagant hats, to run to fat
26.
(intransitive) to recur persistently or be inherent: red hair runs in my family
27.
to cause or allow (liquids) to flow or (of liquids) to flow, esp in a manner specified: water ran from the broken pipe, the well has run dry
28.
(intransitive) to melt and flow: the wax grew hot and began to run
29.
(metallurgy)

30.
(intransitive) (of waves, tides, rivers, etc) to rise high, surge, or be at a specified height: a high sea was running that night
31.
(intransitive) to be diffused: the colours in my dress ran when I washed it
32.
(intransitive) (of stitches) to unravel or come undone or (of a garment) to have stitches unravel or come undone: if you pull that thread the whole seam will run
33.
to sew (an article) with continuous stitches
34.
(intransitive) (of growing vines, creepers, etc) to trail, spread, or climb: ivy running over a cottage wall
35.
(intransitive) to spread or circulate quickly: a rumour ran through the town
36.
(intransitive) to be stated or reported: his story runs as follows
37.
to publish or print or be published or printed in a newspaper, magazine, etc: they ran his story in the next issue
38.
(often foll by for) (mainly US & Canadian) to be a candidate or present as a candidate for political or other office: Anderson is running for president
39.
(transitive) to get past or through; evade: to run a blockade
40.
(transitive) to deal in (arms, etc), esp by importing illegally: he runs guns for the rebels
41.
(nautical) to sail (a vessel, esp a sailing vessel) or (of such a vessel) to be sailed with the wind coming from astern
42.
(intransitive) (of fish)

43.
(transitive) (cricket) to score (a run or number of runs) by hitting the ball and running between the wickets
44.
(transitive) (billiards, snooker) to make (a number of successful shots) in sequence
45.
(transitive) (golf) to hit (the ball) so that it rolls along the ground
46.
(transitive) (bridge) to cash (all one’s winning cards in a long suit) successively
47.
run a bath, to turn on the taps to fill a bath with water for bathing oneself
48.
run close, to compete closely with; present a serious challenge to: he got the job, but a younger man ran him close
49.
(informal) run for it, to attempt to escape from arrest, etc, by running
50.
be run off one’s feet, to be extremely busy
noun
51.
an act, instance, or period of running
52.
a gait, pace, or motion faster than a walk: she went off at a run
53.
a distance covered by running or a period of running: a run of ten miles
54.
an act, instance, or period of travelling in a vehicle, esp for pleasure: to go for a run in the car
55.
free and unrestricted access: we had the run of the house and garden for the whole summer
56.

57.
a continuous or sustained period: a run of good luck
58.
a continuous sequence of performances: the play had a good run
59.
(cards) a sequence of winning cards in one suit, usually more than five: a run of spades
60.
tendency or trend: the run of the market
61.
type, class, or category: the usual run of graduates
62.
(usually foll by on) a continuous and urgent demand: a run on butter, a run on the dollar
63.
a series of unravelled stitches, esp in stockings or tights; ladder
64.
the characteristic pattern or direction of something: the run of the grain on a piece of wood
65.

66.

67.
a pipe, channel, etc, through which water or other liquid flows
68.
(US) a small stream
69.
a steeply inclined pathway or course, esp a snow-covered one used for skiing and bobsleigh racing See also green run, blue run, red run, black run
70.
an enclosure for domestic fowls or other animals, in which they have free movement: a chicken run
71.
(esp in Australia and New Zealand) a tract of land for grazing livestock
72.
a track or area frequented by animals: a deer run, a rabbit run
73.
a group of animals of the same species moving together
74.
the migration of fish upstream in order to spawn
75.
(nautical)

76.
(military)

77.
the movement of an aircraft along the ground during takeoff or landing
78.
(music) a rapid scalelike passage of notes
79.
(cricket) a score of one, normally achieved by both batsmen running from one end of the wicket to the other after one of them has hit the ball Compare extra (sense 6), boundary (sense 2c)
80.
(baseball) an instance of a batter touching all four bases safely, thereby scoring
81.
(golf) the distance that a ball rolls after hitting the ground
82.
(informal) a run for one’s money

83.
in the long run, as the eventual outcome of a sequence of events, actions, etc; ultimately
84.
in the short run, as the immediate outcome of a series of events, etc
85.
on the run

86.
(slang) the runs, diarrhoea

past tense of run (v.), Old English ran.
v.

the modern verb is a merger of two related Old English words, in both of which the first letters sometimes switched places. The first is intransitive rinnan, irnan “to run, flow, run together” (past tense ran, past participle runnen), cognate with (cf. Middle Dutch runnen, Old Saxon, Old High German, Gothic rinnan, German rinnen “to flow, run”).

The second is Old English transitive weak verb ærnan, earnan “ride, run to, reach, gain by running” (probably a metathesis of *rennan), from Proto-Germanic *rannjanan, causative of the root *ren- “to run.” This is cognate with Old Saxon renian, Old High German rennen, German rennen, Gothic rannjan.

Both are from PIE *ri-ne-a-, nasalized form of root *reie- “to flow, run” (see Rhine).

Of streams, etc., from c.1200; of machinery, from 1560s. Meaning “be in charge of” is first attested 1861, originally American English. Meaning “seek office in an election” is from 1826, American English. Phrase run for it “take flight” is attested from 1640s. Many figurative uses are from horseracing or hunting (e.g. to run (something) into the ground, 1836, American English).

To run across “meet” is attested from 1855, American English. To run short “exhaust one’s supply” is from 1752; to run out of in the same sense is from 1713. To run around with “consort with” is from 1887. Run away “flee in the face of danger” is from late 14c. To run late is from 1954.
n.

“a spell of running,” mid-15c. (earlier ren, late 14c.), from run (v.). The Old English noun ryne meant “a flowing, a course, a watercourse.” Modern sense of “small stream” first recorded 1580s, mostly Northern English dialect and American English.

Meaning “continuous stretch” (of something) is from 1670s. Meaning “series or rush of demands on a bank, etc.” is first recorded 1690s. Meaning “the privilege of going through or over” is from 1755. Baseball sense is from 1856. Meaning “single trip by a railroad train” is from 1857. Military aircraft sense is from 1916. Meaning “total number of copies printed” is from 1909. Meaning “tear in a knitted garment” is from 1922. Phrase a run for one’s money is from 1872 in a figurative sense, originally from horse racing, implying competition (1841).

noun

A route followed by a vehicle, esp regularly: In the middle of her run, the bus driver was attacked by a gang of thugs (1925+)

verb

Related Terms

cut and run, dry run, in the long run, meat run, milk run, take a run at someone