When you run, you move more quickly than when you walk, for example because you are in a hurry to get somewhere, or for exercise.

When someone runs in a race, they run in competition with other people.

When a horse runs in a race or when its owner runs it, it competes in a race.

If you say that something long, such as a road, runs in a particular direction, you are describing its course or position. You can also say that something runs the length or width of something else.

If you run a wire or tube somewhere, you fix it or pull it from, to, or across a particular place.

If you run your hand or an object through something, you move your hand or the object through it.

If you run something through a machine, process, or series of tests, you make it go through the machine, process, or tests.

If someone runs for office in an election, they take part as a candidate.

A run for office is an attempt to be elected to office.

If you run something such as a business or an activity, you are in charge of it or you organize it.

If you talk about how a system, an organization, or someone's life is running, you are saying how well it is operating or progressing.

If you run an experiment, computer program, or other process, or start it running, you start it and let it continue.

When you run a cassette or video tape or when it runs, it moves through the machine as the machine operates.

When a machine is running or when you are running it, it is switched on and is working.

A machine or equipment that runs on or off a particular source of energy functions using that source of energy.

If you run a car or a piece of equipment, you have it and use it.

When you say that vehicles such as trains and buses run from one place to another, you mean they regularly travel along that route.

If you run someone somewhere in a car, you drive them there.

If you run over or down to a place that is quite near, you drive there.

A run is a journey somewhere.

If a liquid runs in a particular direction, it flows in that direction.

If you run water, or if you run a tap or a bath, you cause water to flow from a tap.

If a tap or a bath is running, water is coming out of a tap.

If your nose is running, liquid is flowing out of it, usually because you have a cold.

If a surface is running with a liquid, that liquid is flowing down it.

If the dye in some cloth or the ink on some paper runs, it comes off or spreads when the cloth or paper gets wet.

If a feeling runs through your body or a thought runs through your mind, you experience it or think it quickly.

If a feeling or noise runs through a group of people, it spreads among them.

If a theme or feature runs through something such as someone's actions or writing, it is present in all of it.

When newspapers or magazines run a particular item or story or if it runs, it is published or printed.

You can use run to indicate that you are quoting someone else's words or ideas.

If an amount is running at a particular level, it is at that level.

If a play, event, or legal contract runs for a particular period of time, it lasts for that period of time.

If someone or something is running late, they have taken more time than had been planned. If they are running to time or ahead of time, they have taken the time planned or less than the time planned.

If you are running a temperature or a fever, you have a high temperature because you are ill.

A run of a play or television programme is the period of time during which performances are given or programmes are shown.

A run of successes or failures is a series of successes or failures.

A run of a product is the amount that a company or factory decides to produce at one time.

In cricket or baseball, a run is a score of one, which is made by players running between marked places on the field after hitting the ball.

If someone gives you the run of a place, they give you permission to go where you like in it and use it as you wish.

If you say that someone or something is different from the average run or common run of people or things, you mean that they are different from ordinary people or things.

If there is a run on something, a lot of people want to buy it or get it at the same time.

A ski run or bobsleigh run is a course or route that has been designed for skiing or for riding in a bobsleigh.

If something happens against the run of play or against the run of events, it is different from what is generally happening in a game or situation.

If you run someone close ,run them a close second, or run a close second, you almost beat them in a race or competition.

If a river or well runs dry, it no longer has any water in it. If an oil well runs dry, it no longer produces any oil.

If a source of information or money runs dry, no more information or money can be obtained from it.

If a characteristic runs in someone's family, it often occurs in members of that family, in different generations.

If you make a run for it or if you run for it, you run away in order to escape from someone or something.

If people's feelings are running high, they are very angry, concerned, or excited.

If you talk about what will happen in the long run, you are saying what you think will happen over a long period of time in the future. If you talk about what will happen in the short run, you are saying what you think will happen in the near future.

If you say that someone would run a mile if faced with something, you mean that they are very frightened of it and would try to avoid it.

If you say that someone could give someone else a run for their money, you mean you think they are almost as good as the other person.

If someone is on the run, they are trying to escape or hide from someone such as the police or an enemy.

If someone is on the run, they are being severely defeated in a contest or competition.

If you say that a person or group is running scared, you mean that they are frightened of what someone might do to them or what might happen.

If you are running short of something or running low on something, you do not have much of it left. If a supply of something is running short or running low, there is not much of it left.