From Middle English runnen, rennen (“to run”), alteration (due to the past participle runne, runnen, yronne) of Middle English rinnen (“to run”), from Old English rinnan, iernan (“to run”) and Old Norse rinna (“to run”), both from Proto-Germanic *rinnaną (“to run”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reyH- (“to boil, churn”). Cognate with Scots rin (“to run”), West Frisian rinne (“to walk, march”), archaic Dutch rinnen (“to flow”, still in geronnen), German rinnen (“to flow”), Swedish rinna (“to flow”), and Icelandic renna (“to flow”). From the causative Proto-Germanic *rannijaną (“to make run”) are Dutch rennen, German rennen, Danish rende, Swedish ränna (all “to run”). Non-Germanic cognates include Albanian rend (“to run, run after”). See also random.
To move forward quickly upon two feet by alternately making a short jump off either foot.
Run, and you might still catch the train!
Through the open front door ran Jessamy, down the steps to where Kitto was sitting at the bottom with the pram beside him.1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 122:
2
To go at a fast pace; to move quickly.
I have been running all over the building looking for him.
Sorry, I've got to run; my house is on fire!
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Once I ran to you (I ran) / Now I run from you / This tainted love you've given / I give you all a boy could give you1965, Ed Cobb, “Tainted Love”, in Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, performed by Soft Cell, published 1981:
3
To cover (a course or a distance) by running.
I can run a mile, but I can't run the cross-country course.
4
To complete a running course or event in (a given time).
I was hoping to make the team, but I didn't run the qualifying time.
5
To move briskly or smoothly with a motion of sliding, rolling, sweeping etc.
The shuttle runs back and forth on these rollers.
As its name suggests, the monorail runs on a single rail.
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I felt her fingers running over my cheek.
6
To cause to move quickly or lightly.
Every day I run my dog across the field and back.
I'll just run the vacuum cleaner over the carpet.
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Run your fingers through my hair.
Run a flag up (the pole/mast)
Challenger and I ran Summerlee along, one at each of his elbows, while Lord John covered our retreat, firing again and again as savage heads snarled at us out of the bushes.1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:
7
To compete in a race.
The horse will run in the Preakness next year.
I'm not ready to run a marathon.
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The car could not be repaired in time for the race and did not run.
8
To transport (someone or something), notionally at a brisk pace.
Could you run me over to the store?
Please run this report upstairs to director's office.
9
Of a means of transportation: to travel (a route).
The bus (train, plane, ferry boat, etc) runs between Newport and Riverside.
Small planes run between Alor and Langkawi. BUS: Express busses leave the bus terminal on the corner of Jl. Langgar and Jl. Stesyen for K. Kedah, […]1997, Karl-Heinz Reger, Nelles Verlag Staff, Malaysia - Singapore - Brunei, Hunter Publishing, Inc, →ISBN, page 91:
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The first steam ferry or tug, the Little Minnie, ran the river in the 1870s. When vehicles were to cross, a barge was affixed to the Minnie to carry them.2013 April 15, Mary Ann Sternberg, Along the River Road: Past and Present on Louisiana's Historic Byway, LSU Press, →ISBN, page 62:
10
To cause (a vehicle) to travel a route.
This year, NJ Transit allowed nonmotorists […] to reach the event by running special trains every 2 hours 4 round trips). The location was the old Lackawanna Railroad freight house, about a 10-minute walk from the Boonton Station, which normally has service only during peak-commuting hours on weekdays.2024 11, David Peter Alan, “NJ Transit Runs Special Trains to “Railroad Museum [for a day]””, in Lackawanna Coalition Railgram:
11
To transit (a length of a river), as in whitewater rafting.
To put it frankly, if you people had to hire others to run the river and survey it for you, if, in short, you can't even run it yourself, why do think you can decide who is and who is not competent? River running, as has been[…]1979, United States. Forest Service. Rocky Mountain Region, Piedra River: Final Environmental Impact Statement & Wild & Scenic River Study, page 74:
Then, on their second possession, Isaiah Ford ran for 11 yards after abandoning a flea flicker. [...] The Patriots ran the ball just 27 times despite averaging 5 yards per carry.2019 December 29, Chad Finn, “24 thoughts on the Patriots’ loss to the Dolphins”, in Boston Globe:
14
To flee from a danger or towards help.
Whenever things get tough, she cuts and runs.
When he's broke, he runs to me for money.
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When the alarm went off, the thief dropped the booty and ran.
15
Figuratively To pass (without stopping), typically a stop signal, stop sign, or duty to yield the right of way.
The car in front just ran a red light.
If you have a collision with a vehicle oncoming from the right, after having run priority to the right, you are at fault.
There's a strange story running around the neighborhood that you had a miscarriage last year.
The flu is running through my daughter's kindergarten.
19
Of an object, to have a liquid flowing from it.
Your nose is running.
Why is the hose still running?
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My eyes were watering and now tears are running down my cheeks.
20
To make a liquid or electric current flow from or into an object.
Run the water out into the pool.
They ran the electricity back behind the wall.
21
To become liquid; to melt.
As Wax dissolves, as Ice begins to run,1717 [a. 18 CE], Ovid, translated by Joseph Addison, Ovid's Metamorphoses in fifteen books. Translated by the most eminent hands. Adorn'd with sculptures, Book the Third, The Story of Narcissus, page 92:
The Sussex ores run pretty freely in the Fire for Iron-Ores; otherwise they would hardly be worth working.1729, John Woodward, An Attempt Towards a Natural History of the Fossils of England, Tome I, page 223:
22
To leak or spread in an undesirable fashion; to bleed (especially used of dye or paint).
During washing, the red from the rug ran onto the white sheet, staining it pink.
23
To fuse; to shape; to mould; to cast.
to run bullets
But, my Lord, the fairest Diamonds are rough till they are polished, and the purest Gold must be run and washed, and sifted in the Oar.1718, Henry Felton, A Dissertation on Reading the Classics, and Forming a Just Style, page 6:
24
Nautical, TransportOf a vessel To sail before the wind, in distinction from reaching or sailing close-hauled.
25
To control or manage; to be in charge of.
My uncle ran a corner store for forty years.
She runs the fundraising.
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My parents think they run my life.
He is running the candidate's expensive campaign.
A friend of mine who runs an intellectual magazine was grousing about his movie critic, complaining that though the fellow had liked The Godfather (page 58), he had neglected to label it clearly as a masterpiece.1972 December 29, Richard Schickel, “Masterpieces underrated and overlooked”, in Life, volume 73, number 25, page 22:
India is run by gerontocrats and epigones: grey hairs and groomed heirs.2013 May 11, “What a waste”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8835, page 12:
26
To be a candidate in an election.
I have decided to run for governor of California.
We're trying to find somebody to run against him next year.
› To make participate in certain kinds of competitions.
27
To make enter a race.
He ran his best horse in the Derby.
We're running two cars in today's rally.
28
To make stand in an election.
The Green Party is running twenty candidates in this election.
29
To exert continuous activity; to proceed.
to run through life; to run in a circle
30
To be presented in the media.
The story will run on the 6-o'clock news.
The latest Robin Williams movie is running at the Silver City theatre.
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Her picture ran on the front page of the newspaper.
31
To print or broadcast in the media.
run a story; run an ad
32
To smuggle (illegal goods).
They are running guns to the rebels.
[...]whereas in the business of laying heavy impositions two and two never made more than one ; which happens by lessening the import, and the strong temptation of running such goods as paid high duties1728, Jonathan Swift, “An answer to a paper, called A memorial of the poor inhabitants, tradesmen, and labourers of the kingdom of Ireland”, in The Works of Dr. Jonathan Swift, published 1757, page 175:
33
Agriculture, Business, Lifestyle To sort through a large volume of produce in quality control.
Looks like we're gonna have to run the tomatoes again.
› To extend or persist, statically or…
34
To extend in space or through a range (often with a measure phrase).
The border runs for 3000 miles.
The leash runs along a wire.
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The grain of the wood runs to the right on this table.
It ran in quality from excellent to substandard.
35
To extend in time, to last, to continue (usually with a measure phrase).
The sale will run for ten days.
The contract runs through 2008.
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The meeting ran late.
The book runs 655 pages.
The speech runs as follows: …
36
To make (something) extend in space.
I need to run this wire along the wall.
37
Of a machine, including computer programs, to be operating or working normally.
My car stopped running.
That computer runs twenty-four hours a day.
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The buses don't run on Sundays.
38
To make a machine operate.
It's full. You can run the dishwasher now.
Don't run the engine so fast.
39
To execute or carry out a plan, procedure, or program.
They ran twenty blood tests on me and they still don't know what's wrong.
Our coach had us running plays for the whole practice.
3 more examples
I will run the sample.
Don't run that software unless you have permission.
My computer is too old to run the new OS.
40
To pass or go quickly in thought or conversation.
to run from one subject to another
Virgil was so well acquainted with this Secret, that to set off his first Georgic, he has run into a set of Precepts, which are almost foreign to his Subject,1697, Joseph Addison, “An essay on the Georgics”, in The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Aeneis, by John Dryden:
41
To become different in a way mentioned (usually to become worse).
Our food supplies are running low because money is running short.
They frequently overspent and soon ran into debt.
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Tap water always runs freezing cold before running dry.
Have I not cause to rave, and beat my breast, / To rend my heart with grief and run distracted?1712, Joseph Addison, Cato, a Tragedy, act IV, scene i:
I was no more than a boy / In the company of strangers / In the quiet of the railway station / Running scared.1968, Paul Simon, “The Boxer”:
42
To cost an amount of money.
Buying a new laptop will run you a thousand dollars.
Laptops run about a thousand dollars apiece.
43
Of stitches or stitched clothing, to unravel.
My stocking is running.
44
To cause stitched clothing to unravel.
1977-1980, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure He took off the nylons & had runned one. He said "now I really look like a street whore!"
45
To pursue in thought; to carry in contemplation.
To run the world back to its first original and infancy, and, as it were, to view nature in its cradle,1692, Robert South, “Discourse I. The creation of man in God’s image”, in Discourses on Various Subjects and Occasions, published 1827, page 1:
Methinks, if it might be, I would gladly understand the Formation of a Soul, run it up to its Punctum Saliens, and see it beat the first conscious Pulse.1695, Jeremy Collier, “A Thought”, in Miscellanies upon Moral Subjects by Jeremy Collier, page 88:
46
To cause to enter; to thrust.
to run a sword into or through the body; to run a nail into one's foot
“You run your head into the lion's mouth,” answered Mac-Ivor.1814, Sir Walter Scott, Waverley:
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With that he took off his great-coat, and having run his fingers through his hair, thrust one hand gently in the bosom of his waistcoat1844, Charles Dickens, The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit:
There was also hairdressing: hairdressing, too, really was hairdressing in those times — no running a comb through it and that was that. It was curled, frizzed, waved, put in curlers overnight, waved with hot tongs;[…].1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN:
47
To drive or force; to cause, or permit, to be driven.
They ran the ship aground.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 27:41:
[...]besides all this, a talkative person must needs be impertinent, and speak many idle words, and so render himself burdensome and odious to Company, and may perchance run himself upon great Inconveniences, by blabbing out his own or other’s Secrets;1691, John Ray, The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation:
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[...]and others, accustomed to retired speculations, run natural philosophy into metaphysical notions and the abstract generalities of logic ;1706, John Locke, Of the Conduct of the Understanding, Section 24. Partiality:
48
To cause to be drawn; to mark out; to indicate; to determine.
to run a line
49
To encounter or incur (a danger or risk).
to run the risk of losing one's life
He runneth two dangers.1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Friendship”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
He would himself be in the Highlands to receive them, and run his fortune with them.1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, (please specify |book=I to XVI), in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theater:
To sew (a seam) by passing the needle through material in a continuous line, generally taking a series of stitches on the needle at the same time.
53
To control or have precedence in a card game.
Every three or four hands he would run the table.
54
To be in form thus, as a combination of words.
Which Sovereignty, with us, ſo undoubtedly reſideth in the Perſon of the King, that his ordinary Style runneth — Our Sovereign Lord the King: […]1722 [1647], Robert Sanderson, translated by Thomas Lewis, A Preservative Against Schism and Rebellion, in the Most Trying Times, volume 1, translation of De juramenti promissorii obligatione, page 355:
The departure was not unduly prolonged. In the road Mr. Love and the driver favoured the company with a brief chanty running: “Got it?—No, I ain't, 'old on,—Got it? Got it?—No, 'old on sir.”1921, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
55
Archaic To be popularly known; to be generally received.
[...]great captains, and even consular men, who first brought them over, took pride in giving them their own names (by which they run a great while in Rome)c. 1685, William Temple, Upon the Gardens of Epicurus, published 1908, page 27:
Neither was he ignorant what report ran of himselfe.1603, Richard Knolles, The Generall Historie of the Turkes, […], London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC:
56
To have growth or development.
Boys and girls run up rapidly.
or the Richness of the Ground cause them [turnips] to run too much to Leaves1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC:
57
To tend, as to an effect or consequence; to incline.
A man's nature runs either to herbs or weeds.1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Nature in Men”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
It hath been observed, that the temperate climates usually run into moderate governments, and the extremes into despotic power.1708, Jonathan Swift, “The Sentiments of a Church-of-England Man with respect to Religion and Government”, in The Works of Dr. Jonathan Swift, published 1757, page 235:
58
To have a legal course; to be attached; to continue in force, effect, or operation; to follow; to go in company.
Certain covenants run with the land.
Customs run only upon our goods imported or exported, and that but once for all; whereas interest runs as well upon our ships as goods, and must be yearly paid.c. 1665, Josiah Child, Discourse on Trade:
59
To encounter or suffer (a particular, usually bad, fate or misfortune).
Don't let me run the fate of all who show indulgence to your sex […].1748, [Samuel Richardson], chapter 8, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume I, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
60
Golf, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports To strike (the ball) in such a way as to cause it to run along the ground, as when approaching a hole.
you wanna run? -- 'do you want to play?'; said to someone not in the game but who is watching and ready to play, when a team needs another player to make five (usually) for a pick-up game2002 August 24, Linguist List Listserv:
"You wanna run?"1996, Paul Beatty, The White Boy Shuffle:
From Middle English runnen, rennen (“to run”), alteration (due to the past participle runne, runnen, yronne) of Middle English rinnen (“to run”), from Old English rinnan, iernan (“to run”) and Old Norse rinna (“to run”), both from Proto-Germanic *rinnaną (“to run”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reyH- (“to boil, churn”). Cognate with Scots rin (“to run”), West Frisian rinne (“to walk, march”), archaic Dutch rinnen (“to flow”, still in geronnen), German rinnen (“to flow”), Swedish rinna (“to flow”), and Icelandic renna (“to flow”). From the causative Proto-Germanic *rannijaną (“to make run”) are Dutch rennen, German rennen, Danish rende, Swedish ränna (all “to run”). Non-Germanic cognates include Albanian rend (“to run, run after”). See also random.
Act or instance of running, of moving rapidly using the feet.
I just got back from my morning run.
Krohn-Dehli took advantage of a lucky bounce of the ball after a battling run on the left flank by Simon Poulsen, dummied two defenders and shot low through goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg's legs after 24 minutes.2012 June 9, Owen Phillips, “Euro 2012: Netherlands 0-1 Denmark”, in BBC Sport:
2
Act or instance of hurrying (to or from a place) (not necessarily on foot); dash or errand, trip.
I need to make a run to the store.
[…] and on the 18th of January this squadron put to sea. The first place of rendezvous was the boy of port St. Julian, upon the coast of Patagonia, and all accidents were provided against with admirable foresight. Their run to port St. Julian was dangerous […]1759, N. Tindal, The Continuation of Mr Rapin's History of England, volume 21 (continuation volume 9), page 92
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Jackson said the white firefighters attempted to make him and other Black firefighters miss runs by not waking them up along with everyone else.1987 April 25, Kim Westheimer, “A Black Gay Fireman's Story”, in Gay Community News, page 1:
3
A pleasure trip.
Let's go for a run in the car.
And I think of giving her a run in London for a change.1842 December – 1844 July, Charles Dickens, chapter 30, in The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1844, →OCLC:
4
Flight, instance or period of fleeing.
During his run from the police, he claimed to have a metaphysical experience which can only be described as “having passed through an abyss.”2006, Tsirk Susej, The Demonic Bible, →ISBN, page 41:
5
Migration of fish.
6
A group of fish that migrate, or ascend a river for the purpose of spawning.
› A literal or figurative path or course for…
7
A (regular) trip or route.
The bus on the Cherry Street run is always crowded.
You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon? It's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs.1977, Star Wars (film)
8
The route taken while running or skiing.
Which run did you do today?
9
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Skiing, Sports A single trip down a hill, as in skiing and bobsledding.
10
The distance sailed by a ship.
a good run; a run of fifty miles
11
A voyage.
a run to China
12
A trial.
The data got lost, so I'll have to perform another run of the experiment.
This morning's run of the SHIPS statistical model gave Hurricane Priscilla a 74% chance of gaining at least 30 knots of intensity in 24 hours, reconfirmed by the HMON and GFS dynamical models.
14
Video games A playthrough, or attempted playthrough; a session of play.
This was my first successful run without losing any health.
That NPC bugged out and killed my run.
15
Unrestricted use. Only used in have the run of.
He can have the run of the house.
16
An enclosure for an animal; a track or path along which something can travel.
He set up a rabbit run.
17
Australia, New Zealand A rural landholding for farming, usually for running sheep, and operated by a runholder.
18
State of being current; currency; popularity.
It is impossible for detached papers[...] to have a general run, or long continuance, if they are not diversified[...].1715 June 4 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 45. Tuesday, May 25. [1715.]”, in The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq; […], volume IV, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1721, →OCLC:
› Something continuous or sequential.
19
A continuous period (of time) marked by a trend; a period marked by a continuing trend.
I’m having a run of bad luck.
1782 Frances Burney Cecilia “ […] had had the preceding night an uncommon run of luck”.
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He went to Las Vegas and spent all his money over a three-day run.
They who make their arrangements in the firſt run of miſadventure[…] put a ſeal on their calamities.1796, Edmund Burke, “Letter I. On the Overtures of Peace.”, in Two Letters Addressed to a Member of the Present Parliament on the Proposals for Peace with the Regicide Directory of France, London: […] F[rancis] and C[harles] Rivington, […], published 20 October 1796, →OCLC, page 23:
German wildcard Sabine Lisicki conquered her nerves to defeat France's Marion Bartoli and take her amazing Wimbledon run into the semi-finals.2011 June 28, Piers Newbery, “Wimbledon 2011: Sabine Lisicki beats Marion Bartoli”, in BBC Sport:
20
A series of tries in a game that were successful.
If our team can keep up their strong defense, expect them to make a run in this tournament.
21
A production quantity (such as in a factory).
Yesterday we did a run of 12,000 units.
The book’s initial press run will be 5,000 copies.
22
The period of showing of a play, film, TV series, etc.
The run of the show lasted two weeks, and we sold out every night.
It is the last week of our French cinema run.
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A canting, mawkish play [...] had an immense run.1856 February, [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “Oliver Goldsmith”, in T[homas] F[lower] E[llis], editor, The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, new edition, London: Longman, Green, Reader, & Dyer, published 1871, →OCLC:
23
Slang A period of extended (usually daily) drug use.
And I'll tell ya, things aren't quite the same / When I'm rushing on my run.1964, The Velvet Underground, Heroin:
Frank Fixwell, a 25 year-old male, has been on a heroin "run" (daily use) for the past two years.1975, Lloyd Y. Young, Mary Anne Koda-Kimble, Brian S. Katcher, Applied Therapeutics for Clinical Pharmacists:
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1977, Richard P. Rettig, Manual J. Torres, Gerald R. Garrett, Manny: a criminal-addict's story, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) →ISBN I was hooked on dope, and hooked bad, during this whole period, but I was also hooked behind robbery. When you're on a heroin run, you stay loaded so long as you can score.
This can develop quite quickly (over a matter of hours) during a cocaine run or when cocaine use becomes a daily habit.2001, Robin J. Harman, Handbook of Pharmacy Health Education, Pharmaceutical Press, →ISBN, page 172:
DA depletion leads to the crash that characteristically ends a cocaine run.2010, Robert DuPont, The Selfish Brain: Learning from Addiction, Hazelden Publishing, →ISBN, page 158:
24
Card games, Games A sequence of cards in a suit in a card game.
25
Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music A rapid passage in music, especially along a scale.
26
A flow of liquid; a leak.
The constant run of water from the faucet annoys me.
a run of must in wine-making
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the first run of sap in a maple orchard
27
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West A small creek or part thereof. (Compare Southern US branch and New York and New England brook.)
Chiefly eastern North Midland US; especially Ohio; chiefly eastern North Midland US; especially Ohio
The military campaign near that creek was known as "The battle of Bull Run".
28
A quick pace, faster than a walk.
He broke into a run.
29
Of horses A fast gallop.
30
Banking, Business A sudden series of demands on a bank or other financial institution, especially characterised by great withdrawals.
Financial insecurity led to a run on the banks, as customers feared for the security of their savings.
31
Any sudden large demand for something.
There was a run on Christmas presents.
› Various horizontal dimensions or surfaces
32
The top of a step on a staircase, also called a tread, as opposed to the rise.
I’m coming up next month to work for the summer and wanna know where I can get some run or any intel on indoor and outdoor courts.2024 April 10, Reddit Juneau:
I used to see homies getting some run in regularly at Pomeroy but it died down this summer for some reason... dunno why.. them runs was fireeeeeee2022 September 1, Reddit Burlington:
38
Ball games, Baseball, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A score when a runner touches all bases legally; the act of a runner scoring.
39
Ball games, Cricket, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports The act of passing from one wicket to another; the point scored for this.
Aaron Roberts added an insurance touchdown on a one-yard run.2003, Jack Seibold, Spartan Sports Encyclopedia, page 592:
41
Golf, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports The movement communicated to a golf ball by running it.
42
Golf, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports The distance a ball travels after touching the ground from a stroke.
43
The distance drilled with a bit, in oil drilling.
Well, when you compare the cone type with the cross roller bit, you get a longer run, there is less tendency of the bit to go flat while running in various formations. It cleans itself better.1832, Records and Briefs of the United States Supreme Court, page 21:
44
A line of knit stitches that have unravelled, particularly in a nylon stocking.
I have a run in my stocking.
A camera pans the cocktail hour / Behind a blind of potted palms / And finds a lady in a Paris dress / With runs in her nylons1975, Joni Mitchell, “The Boho Dance”, in The Hissing of Summer Lawns:
45
Nautical, Transport The stern of the underwater body of a ship from where it begins to curve upward and inward.
46
Business, Mining The horizontal distance to which a drift may be carried, either by licence of the proprietor of a mine or by the nature of the formation; also, the direction which a vein of ore or other substance takes.
47
A pair or set of millstones.
48
One’s gait while running; the way one runs.
I think they only have a weird run because their leg hurts.
From Middle English runnen, rennen (“to run”), alteration (due to the past participle runne, runnen, yronne) of Middle English rinnen (“to run”), from Old English rinnan, iernan (“to run”) and Old Norse rinna (“to run”), both from Proto-Germanic *rinnaną (“to run”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reyH- (“to boil, churn”). Cognate with Scots rin (“to run”), West Frisian rinne (“to walk, march”), archaic Dutch rinnen (“to flow”, still in geronnen), German rinnen (“to flow”), Swedish rinna (“to flow”), and Icelandic renna (“to flow”). From the causative Proto-Germanic *rannijaną (“to make run”) are Dutch rennen, German rennen, Danish rende, Swedish ränna (all “to run”). Non-Germanic cognates include Albanian rend (“to run, run after”). See also random.
1
In a liquid state; melted or molten.
Put some run butter on the vegetables.
Samples of the regular run butter were sealed in 1 pound tins and sent to Washington, where the butter was scored and examined.1921, L. W. Ferris, H. W. Redfield, W. R. North, “The Volatile Acids and the Volatile Oxidizable Substances of Cream and Experimental Butter”, in Journal of Dairy Science, volume 4, page 522:
2
Cast in a mould.
[...] the Sides are generally made of Holland's Tiles, or Plates of run Iron, ornamented variously as Fancy dictates, [...]1735, Thomas Frankz, A tour through France, Flanders, and Germany: in a letter to Robert Savil, page 18:
Vast quantities are cast in sand moulds, with that kind of run steel which is so largely used in the production of common table-knives and forks.1833, The Cabinet Cyclopaedia: A treatise on the progressive improvement and present state of the Manufactures in Metal, volume 2, Iron and Steel (printed in London), page 314
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For making tea I have a kettle, Besides a pan made of run metal; An old arm-chair, in which I sit well — The back is round.c. 1839, (Richard of Raindale, The Plan of my House vindicated, quoted by) T. T. B. in the Dwelling of Richard of Raindale, King of the Moors, published in The Mirror, number 966, 7 September 1839, page 153
3
Exhausted; depleted (especially with "down" or "out").
4
Of a zoology Travelled, migrated; having made a migration or a spawning run.
The temperature of the water is consequently much higher than in either England or Scotland, and many newly run salmon will be found in early spring in the upper waters of Irish rivers where obstructions exist.1889, Henry Cholmondeley-Pennell, Fishing: Salmon and Trout, fifth edition, page 185:
It may be very much a metallic appearance as opposed to the silver freshness of a recently run salmon.1986, Arthur Oglesby, Fly fishing for salmon and sea trout, page 15:
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Thus, on almost any day of the year, a fresh-run salmon may be caught legally somewhere in the British Isles.2005, Rod Sutterby, Malcolm Greenhalgh, Atlantic Salmon: An Illustrated Natural History, page 86: