Dictionary
run•ning
Pronunciation: (run'ing), [key]—
n.
1. the act of a person, animal, or thing that runs.
2. managing or directing:
the running of a business.
3. an act or instance of racing:
the 113th running of the Kentucky Derby.
4. the condition of a track or surface to be run or raced on; footing:
Our track team had muddy running today.
5. the amount, quality, or type of a liquid flow.
6. in the running,
a. participating or entered as a competitor.
b. under consideration as a candidate or possible choice:
Who is still in the running for the directorship?
c. among the winners or those making a good showing.
7. out of the running,
a. not competing in a contest or race.
b. not among the winners or runners-up in a contest or race:
to finish out of the running.
—
adj.
1. galloping, racing, moving, or passing rapidly.
2. (of a horse)
a. going or proceeding rapidly at the gait of a gallop.
b. taught to proceed at a gallop.
3. creeping or climbing, as plants:
a running vine.
4. moving or proceeding easily or smoothly.
5. moving when pulled or hauled, as a rope.
6. slipping or sliding easily, as a knot or a noose.
7. operating or functioning, as a machine.
8. (of measurement) linear; straight-line.
9. cursive, as handwriting.
10. flowing, as a stream.
11. liquid or fluid.
12. present; current:
the running month.
13. prevalent, as a condition or state:
running prices.
14. going or carried on continuously; sustained:
a running commentary.
15. extending or repeated continuously:
a running pattern.
16. performed with or during a run:
a running leap.
17. discharging pus or other matter:
a running sore.
18. Naut.noting any of various objects or assemblages of objects that may be moved in ordinary use:
running bowsprit; running gaff.
19. Naut., Mach.
a. noting any block of a tackle that moves.
b. noting the part of the fall of a tackle that moves through the blocks (opposed to
standing).
—
adv.
in succession; consecutively:
He slept badly for three nights running. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
