Move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time

• - the dog ran across the road

• - she ran the last few yards, breathing heavily

• - he hasn't paid for his drinks—run and catch him

Run as a sport or for exercise

• - I run every morning

(of an athlete or a racehorse) Compete in a race

• - she ran in the 200 meters

• - Dave has run 42 marathons

Enter (a racehorse) for a race

(of a batter or base runner) Attempt to advance to the next base

(of hounds) Chase or hunt their quarry

(of a boat) Sail directly before the wind, esp. in bad weather

(of a migratory fish) Go upriver from the sea in order to spawn

Move about in a hurried and hectic way

• - I've spent the whole day running around after the kids

Have rapid recourse to (someone) for support or help

• - don't come running to me for a handout

Pass or cause to pass quickly or smoothly in a particular direction

• - the rumor ran through the pack of photographers

• - Helen ran her fingers through her hair

Move or cause to move somewhere forcefully or with a particular result

• - the tanker ran aground off the Aleutian Islands

• - a woman ran a stroller into the back of my legs

Fail to stop at (a red traffic light)

Navigate (rapids or a waterfall) in a boat

Extend or cause to extend in a particular direction

• - cobbled streets run down to a tiny harbor

• - he ran a wire under the carpet

(of a quality or trait) Be common or inherent in members of (a particular family), esp. over several generations

• - weight problems run in my family

Pass into or reach a specified state or level

• - inflation is running at 11 percent

• - the decision ran counter to previous government commitments

(of a liquid) Flow in a specified direction

• - tears were running down her face

Cause (a liquid) to flow

• - she ran cold water into the sink

Cause water to flow over (something)

• - I ran my hands under the faucet

Fill (a bath) with water

• - I'll run you a nice hot bath

Be covered or streaming with (a particular liquid)

• - his face was running with sweat

Emit or exude a liquid

• - she was weeping loudly, and her nose was running

(of a solid substance) Melt and become fluid

• - it was so hot that the butter ran

(of the sea, the tide, or a river) Rise higher or flow more quickly

• - there was still a heavy sea running

(of dye or color in fabric or paper) Dissolve and spread when the fabric or paper becomes wet

• - the red dye ran when the socks were washed

(of a stocking or pair of tights) Develop a ravel

(of a bus, train, ferry, or other form of transportation) Make a regular journey on a particular route

• - buses run into town every half hour

Put (a particular form of public transportation) in service

• - the group is drawing up plans to run trains on key routes

Take (someone) somewhere in a car

• - I'll run you home

Be in charge of; manage

• - Andrea runs her own catering business

• - an attractive family-run hotel

(of a system, organization, or plan) Operate or proceed in a particular way

• - everything's running according to plan

Organize and make available for other people

• - we decided to run a series of seminars

Carry out (a test or procedure)

• - he asked the army to run tests on the anti nerve-gas pills

Own, maintain, and use (a vehicle)

Be in or cause to be in operation; function or cause to function

• - the car runs on unleaded fuel

• - a number of peripherals can be run off one SCSI port

Move or cause to move between the spools of a recording machine

• - I ran the tape back

• - the tape has run out

Continue or be valid or operative for a particular period of time

• - the course ran for two days

• - this particular debate will run on and on

Happen or arrive at the specified time

• - the program was running fifteen minutes late

(of a play or exhibition) Be staged or presented

• - the play ran on Broadway last year

Be a candidate in a political election

• - he announced that he intended to run for President

(esp. of a political party) Sponsor (a candidate) in an election

• - they ran their first candidate for the school board

Publish or be published in a newspaper or magazine

• - the tabloids ran the story

• - when the story ran, there was a big to-do

(of a story, argument, or piece of writing) Have a specified wording or contents

• - “Tapestries slashed!” ran the dramatic headline

Bring (goods) into a country illegally and secretly; smuggle

• - they run drugs for the cocaine cartels

(of an object or act) Cost (someone) (a specified amount)

• - a new photocopier will run us about $1,300