ladder
n
1 a portable framework of wood, metal, rope, etc., in the form of two long parallel members connected by several parallel rungs or steps fixed to them at right angles, for climbing up or down
2 any hierarchy conceived of as having a series of ascending stages, levels, etc.
the social ladder
a anything resembling a ladder
b (as modifier)
ladder stitch
4 (Also called)
run (Chiefly Brit) a line of connected stitches that have come undone in knitted material, esp. stockings
5 See →
ladder tournament
vb
6 (Chiefly Brit) to cause a line of interconnected stitches in (stockings, etc.) to undo, as by snagging, or (of a stocking) to come undone in this way (Old English hlædder; related to Old High German leitara)
black run
n (Skiing) an extremely difficult run, suitable for expert skiers
blue run
n (Skiing) an easy run, suitable for beginners
bombing run
n an approach by a bomber to a target
Bull Run
n Battles of. two battles fought at Manassas Junction near a stream named Bull Run, during the American Civil War (July, 1861 and August, 1862), in both of which the Federal army was routed by the Confederates, (Also called)
First and Second Manassas See also →
Manassas
cresta run
n
a an activity involving travelling at high speed in a toboggan down a steep narrow passage of compacted snow and ice
dry run
n
1 (Military) practice in weapon firing without live ammunition
2 Informal a trial or practice, esp. in simulated conditions; rehearsal
dummy run
n a practice or rehearsal; trial run
fresh-run
adj (of fish) newly migrated upstream from the sea, esp. to spawn
fun run
n a long run or part-marathon run for exercise and pleasure, often by large numbers of people
green run
n (Skiing) a very easy run, suitable for complete beginners
ground run
n the distance taken by an aircraft to brake from its landing speed to its taxiing speed or a stop
hen run
n an enclosure for hens, esp. one made of chicken wire
hit-and-run
adj prenominal
a involved in or denoting a motor-vehicle accident in which the driver leaves the scene without stopping to give assistance, inform the police, etc.
2 (of an attack, raid, etc.) relying on surprise allied to a rapid departure from the scene of operations for the desired effect
hit-and-run tactics
3 (Baseball) denoting a play in which a base runner begins to run as the pitcher throws the ball to the batter
home run
n (Baseball) a hit that enables the batter to run round all four bases, usually by hitting the ball out of the playing area
milk run
n (Aeronautics, informal) a routine and uneventful flight, esp. on a dangerous mission
(C20: referring to the regular and safe routine of a milkman's round)
mole run
n usually pl
Informal any part of a system of underground tunnels, rooms, etc., prepared for use in the event of nuclear war
red run
n (Skiing) a run of some difficulty, suitable for intermediate skiers
run
vb , runs, running, ran, run
a (of a two-legged creature) to move on foot at a rapid pace so that both feet are off the ground together for part of each stride
b (of a four-legged creature) to move at a rapid gait; gallop or canter
2 tr to pass over (a distance, route, etc.) in running
to run a mile, run a race
3 intr to run in or finish a race as specified, esp. in a particular position
John is running third
4 tr to perform or accomplish by or as if by running
to run an errand
5 intr to flee; run away
they took to their heels and ran
6 tr to bring into a specified state or condition by running
to run oneself to a standstill
7 tr to track down or hunt (an animal)
to run a fox to earth
8 intr to move about freely and without restraint
the children are running in the garden
9 intr; 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 tr to set (animals) loose on (a field or tract of land) so as to graze freely
11 intr; 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 tr; foll by: into, out of, through etc to force, thrust, or drive
she ran a needle into her finger
16 tr to drive or maintain and operate (a vehicle)
17 tr 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, to run a program on a computer
20 tr to be in charge of; manage
to run a company
21 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
a to have legal force or effect
the lease runs for two more years
b to accompany; be an integral part of or adjunct to
an easement runs with the land
23 tr to be subjected to, be affected by, or incur
to run a risk, run a temperature
24 intr; often foll by: to to be characterized (by); tend or incline
her taste runs to extravagant hats, to run to fat
25 intr to recur persistently or be inherent
red hair runs in my family
26 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
27 intr to melt and flow
the wax grew hot and began to run
b tr to mould or cast (molten metal)
to run lead into ingots
29 intr (of waves, tides, rivers, etc.) to rise high, surge, or be at a specified height
a high sea was running that night
30 intr to be diffused
the colours in my dress ran when I washed it
31 intr (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
32 to sew (an article) with continuous stitches
33 intr (of growing vines, creepers, etc.) to trail, spread, or climb
ivy running over a cottage wall
34 intr to spread or circulate quickly
a rumour ran through the town
35 intr to be stated or reported
his story runs as follows
36 to publish or print or be published or printed in a newspaper, magazine, etc
they ran his story in the next issue
37 often foll by: for (Chiefly U.S. and Canadian) to be a candidate or present as a candidate for political or other office
Anderson is running for president
38 tr to get past or through; evade
to run a blockade
39 tr to deal in (arms, etc.), esp. by importing illegally
he runs guns for the rebels
40 (Nautical) to sail (a vessel, esp. a sailing vessel) or (of such a vessel) to be sailed with the wind coming from astern
a to migrate upstream from the sea, esp. in order to spawn
b to swim rapidly in any area of water, esp. during migration
42 tr (Cricket) to score (a run or number of runs) by hitting the ball and running between the wickets
43 tr (Billiards, etc.) to make (a number of successful shots) in sequence
44 tr (Golf) to hit (the ball) so that it rolls along the ground
45 tr (Bridge) to cash (all one's winning cards in a long suit) successively
46 ♦
run a bath to turn on the taps to fill a bath with water for bathing oneself
47 ♦
run close to compete closely with; present a serious challenge to
he got the job, but a younger man ran him close
48 ♦
run for it
Informal to attempt to escape from arrest, etc., by running
49 ♦
be run off one's feet to be extremely busy
n
50 an act, instance, or period of running
51 a gait, pace, or motion faster than a walk
she went off at a run
52 a distance covered by running or a period of running
a run of ten miles
53 an act, instance, or period of travelling in a vehicle, esp. for pleasure
to go for a run in the car
54 free and unrestricted access
we had the run of the house and garden for the whole summer
a a period of time during which a machine, computer, etc., operates
b the amount of work performed in such a period
56 a continuous or sustained period
a run of good luck
57 a continuous sequence of performances
the play had a good run
58 (Cards) a sequence of winning cards in one suit, usually more than five
a run of spades
59 tendency or trend
the run of the market
60 type, class, or category
the usual run of graduates
61 usually foll by: on a continuous and urgent demand
a run on butter, a run on the dollar
62 a series of unravelled stitches, esp. in stockings or tights; ladder
63 the characteristic pattern or direction of something
the run of the grain on a piece of wood
a a continuous vein or seam of ore, coal, etc.
b the direction in which it lies
a a period during which water or other liquid flows
b the amount of such a flow
66 a pipe, channel, etc., through which water or other liquid flows
68 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
69 an enclosure for domestic fowls or other animals, in which they have free movement
a chicken run
70 (esp. in Australia and New Zealand) a tract of land for grazing livestock
71 a track or area frequented by animals
a deer run, a rabbit run
72 a group of animals of the same species moving together
73 the migration of fish upstream in order to spawn
a the tack of a sailing vessel in which the wind comes from astern
b part of the hull of a vessel near the stern where it curves upwards and inwards
a a mission in a warplane
b short for →
bombing run
76 the movement of an aircraft along the ground during takeoff or landing
77 (Music) a rapid scalelike passage of notes
78 (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 →
6 →
boundary →
2c
79 (Baseball) an instance of a batter touching all four bases safely, thereby scoring
80 (Golf) the distance that a ball rolls after hitting the ground
81 ♦
a run for(one's) money
Informal
a a strong challenge or close competition
b pleasure derived from an activity
82 ♦
in the long run as the eventual outcome of a sequence of events, actions, etc.; ultimately
83 ♦
in the short run as the immediate outcome of a series of events, etc
a escaping from arrest; fugitive
b in rapid flight; retreating
the enemy is on the run
c hurrying from place to place
she's always on the run
85 ♦
the runs
Slang diarrhoea, (See also)
→
run about →
run across →
run after →
run along →
run around →
run away →
run down →
run in →
run into →
run off →
run on →
run out →
run over →
run through →
run to →
run up
(Old English runnen, past participle of (ge)rinnan; related to Old French, Old Norse rinna, Old Saxon, Gothic, Old High German rinnan)
run across
vb intr, prep to meet unexpectedly; encounter by chance
run after
vb intr, prep
Informal
1 to pursue (a member of the opposite sex) with persistent attention
2 to pursue (anything) persistently
3 to care for in an excessively attentive or servile way
she runs after her three grown sons as if they were babies
run along
vb intr, adv (often said patronizingly) to go away; leave
run around
vb intr, adv
Informal
1 often foll by: with to associate habitually (with)
2 to behave in a fickle or promiscuous manner
n
♦
run-around
3 Informal deceitful or evasive treatment of a person (esp. in the phrase give or get the run-around)
4 (Printing) an arrangement of printed matter in which the column width is narrowed to accommodate an illustration
run away
vb intr, adv
3 (of a horse) to gallop away uncontrollably
a to abscond or elope with
he ran away with his boss's daughter
b to make off with; steal
c to escape from the control of
his enthusiasm ran away with him
d to win easily or be assured of victory in (a competition)
he ran away with the race
n
♦
runaway
a a person or animal that runs away
b (as modifier)
a runaway horse
6 the act or an instance of running away
7 modifier occurring as a result of the act of eloping
a runaway wedding
8 modifier (of a race, victory, etc.) easily won
run down
vb mainly adv
1 to cause or allow (an engine, battery, etc.) to lose power gradually and cease to function or (of an engine, battery, etc.) to do this
2 to decline or reduce in number or size
the firm ran down its sales force
3 tr, usually passive to tire, sap the strength of, or exhaust
he was thoroughly run down and needed a holiday
4 tr to criticize adversely; denigrate; decry
5 tr to hit and knock to the ground with a moving vehicle
a tr to collide with and cause to sink
b intr, prep to navigate so as to move parallel to (a coast)
7 tr to pursue and find or capture
to run down a fugitive
8 tr to read swiftly or perfunctorily
he ran down their list of complaints
adj
♦
run-down
10 worn-out, shabby, or dilapidated
n
♦
rundown
11 a brief review, résumé, or summary
12 the process of a motor or mechanism coming gradually to a standstill after the source of power is removed
13 a reduction in number or size
run in
vb adv
1 to run (an engine) gently, usually for a specified period when it is new, in order that the running surfaces may become polished
2 tr to insert or include
3 intr (of an aircraft) to approach a point or target
4 tr
Informal to take into custody; arrest
he was run in for assault
n
♦
run-in
5 Informal an argument or quarrel
he had a run-in with the boss yesterday
6 an approach to the end of an event, etc
the run-in to the championship
7 (Printing) matter inserted in an existing paragraph
run into
vb prep; mainly intr
1 also tr to collide with or cause to collide with
her car ran into a tree
2 to encounter unexpectedly
3 also tr to be beset by or cause to be beset by
the project ran into financial difficulties
4 to extend to; be of the order of
debts running into thousandsf
run off
vb adv
1 intr to depart in haste
2 tr to produce quickly, as copies on a duplicating machine
3 to drain (liquid) or (of liquid) to be drained
4 tr to decide (a race) by a runoff
5 tr to get rid of (weight, etc.) by running
6 intr (of a flow of liquid) to begin to dry up; cease to run
b to elope with
n
♦
runoff
a an extra race to decide the winner after a tie
b a contest or election held after a previous one has failed to produce a clear victory for any one person
9 that portion of rainfall that runs into streams as surface water rather than being absorbed by the soil
10 the overflow of a liquid from a container
11 (N.Z.) grazing land for store cattle
run-of-paper
adj (of a story, advertisement, etc.) placed anywhere in a newspaper, at the discretion of the editor
run-of-the-mill
adj ordinary, average, or undistinguished in quality, character, or nature; not special or excellent
run on
vb adv
1 intr to continue without interruption
2 to write with linked-up characters
3 (Printing) to compose text matter without indentation or paragraphing
n
♦
run-on
a text matter composed without indenting
b (as modifier)
run-on text matter
a a word added at the end of a dictionary entry whose meaning can be easily inferred from the definition of the headword
b (as modifier)
a run-on entry
run out
vb adv
1 intr; often foll by: of to exhaust (a supply of something) or (of a supply) to become exhausted
2 ♦
run out on
Informal to desert or abandon
3 tr (Cricket) to dismiss (a running batsman) by breaking the wicket with the ball, or with the ball in the hand, while he is out of his ground
n
♦
run-out
4 (Cricket) dismissal of a batsman by running him out
5 (Mechanical engineering) an imperfection of a rotating component so that not all parts revolve in the same plane
run over
vb
1 tr, adv to knock down (a person) with a moving vehicle
2 intr to overflow the capacity of (a container)
3 intr, prep to examine hastily or make a rapid survey of
4 intr, prep to exceed (a limit)
we've run over our time
run through
vb
1 tr, adv to transfix with a sword or other weapon
2 intr, prep to exhaust (money) by wasteful spending; squander
3 intr, prep to practise or rehearse
let's run through the plan
4 intr, prep to examine hastily
n
♦
run-through
5 a practice or rehearsal
run time
n (Computing) the time during which a computer program is executed
run to
vb intr, prep to be sufficient for
my income doesn't run to luxuries
run up
vb tr, adv
1 to amass or accumulate; incur
to run up debts
2 to make by sewing together quickly
to run up a dress
3 to hoist
to run up a flag
n
♦
run-up
4 an approach run by an athlete for a long jump, pole vault, etc.
5 a preliminary or preparatory period
the run-up to the election
ski run
n a trail, slope, or course for skiing
tip and run
n
1 a form of cricket in which the batsman must run if his bat touches the ball
adj
♦
tip-and-run
2 prenominal characterized by a rapid departure immediately after striking
a tip-and-run raid
trial run
n
1 a test drive in a vehicle to assess its performance
2 a test or rehearsal of something new or untried to assess its effectiveness