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run

run

11 8.2
A long line where stitches in a stocking come undone
  • noun
  • /rʌn/
translation icon : calada
  • When her stockings got too many runs, Mrs. Kovaks gave them to May Anna.

Examples

  • And I got a run in my stockings.

  • Her clothes are cheap, her shoes are dusty, and there are runs in her stockings.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • You can use those to hide your thin runs later on.

  • The little kit to mend the runs, remember?

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Last week, I noticed a run in my tights as I was leaving the house.

  • As Mrs. Reinard took her seat, Juliana noticed a tiny run in the woman's stockings.

  • When her stockings got too many runs, Mrs. Kovaks gave them to May Anna.

Synonyms

ladder
vsrun
8 7.6

A long run in tights or stockings where threads come undone

is the identical concept expressed with a different common term for the defect
laddering
vsrun
  • UK
6.8

A long unravelling line in knitted clothes, often in stockings

names the finished row of loose stitches rather than the forming process

Antonyms

71 2.1

To try to make a damaged relationship or reputation better

Idioms

Something many members of the same family have

25 3.9

Get away very quickly to avoid being hurt

For a short time without thinking about long-term effects

17 3.4

To have a big success people do not expect

14 6.7

A serious challenge that makes success difficult

to run on fumes
  • Informal
8 7.5

To keep working with very little energy or money left

7 5.4

Manage a group or organization strictly to keep it working well

7 5.6

To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble

6 4.6

To be much better than someone at doing something

Over a long time into the future

3 8.4

Talk too much and say things you should not

3 8.1

Feel sudden, strong fear or shock

To face many difficult questions or strong criticism

To do something that might lead to harm or loss

1 8.1

To feel very excited about something and then lose interest often

to run the table
  • Informal
1 7.3

Win every game or match in a series without losing any

1 7.3

To move quickly and attack often in sports or games

to run a mile
  • Informal
1 7.1

Move away quickly to avoid something you are afraid of

A score by a team while the other team controls the game

Start with basic skills before trying harder tasks

Act in a confused or uncontrolled way because of strong emotion

To support two opposite sides at the same time to please both

to run amain
  • Archaic
9.9

To move very fast on foot to get somewhere quickly

Move quickly from place to place trying to solve many urgent problems

To make someone very busy and tired with too much work

3.9

To move very fast with great energy

A stream or river that flows very little because it is dry

Work very well and smoothly after being fixed or updated

9.9

Manage and look after a business

8.5

To act in a risky way without thinking about the bad results

To support two opposite sides at the same time

Compounds

205 3.2

A long time when you see the final result of actions

169 2.3

A hit that lets the batter run all the bases and score a run

run-in
  • Informal
41 5.2

An angry argument with someone

28 3.7

A road accident where the driver leaves without stopping to help or give details

27 4.1

Lasting for a short time, not long-term

26 3.4

A period when a person, team, or company has a lot of success

26 5.4

A vehicle crash caused by a driver who leaves without helping or saying who they are

run-of-the-mill
  • Informal
24 3.3

Ordinary and not special

home run
  • Informal
20 2.5

A very successful result that achieves its goal

16 5.9

A sudden rise in prices or values over a short time

14 4.2

A complete rehearsal of a play or presentation without stopping

13 3.2

A short test to see if something works well before real use

8 4.1

A practice session before an event to check for problems

earned run
  • Specialized
7 6.3

A run charged to the pitcher when the other team makes no fielding error or passed ball

6 4.2

Happening over a long time, not just now

5 1.0

A short jog in the morning to exercise and wake up

bombing run
  • Specialized
4 7.3

The part of a plane's mission when it approaches a target and drops weapons on it

4 7.0

Many customers try to take out their money from a bank because they fear it will fail

4 2.1

A short race people run for fun or to raise money for charity

beer run
  • Informal
4 7.2

A quick trip to buy beer before a party or gathering

3 7.5

One of two major Civil War battles that took place near a creek in Virginia

earned run average
  • Specialized
3 6.5

Average number of runs a pitcher allows in nine innings, not counting runs after fielding mistakes

A sentence that joins more than one full idea without proper punctuation or connecting words

print run
  • Literature
3 3.7

The number of copies made for one edition of a magazine, book or newspaper

run batted in
  • Specialized
3 5.3

A score given to a batter when their hit lets another player reach home

2 6.1

A quick attack where the attackers leave immediately

run-time
  • Specialized
2 4.2

The time when a computer program runs on a device

An early Civil War battle in Virginia where Confederate forces defeat Union troops

end run
  • US
1 7.6

A way of avoiding a rule or decision by acting cleverly

1 4.2

A quick approach an athlete makes to gain speed before a jump or throw

ski run
  • UK
1 2.9

A slope prepared and kept for people to ski on

unearned run
  • Jargon
1 6.5

A run scored because a defensive player made a mistake, not from the batter's play

run of play
  • Jargon
1 6.1

The normal action during a game not counting set pieces like free kicks or penalties

1 2.2

An enclosed outdoor area where chickens live and move

1 5.5

A practice test to find and fix problems before the real event

1 7.7

An indirect way to avoid a rule or problem

end run
  • Jargon
1 6.5

An attempt to move the ball by running around the end of the line in American football

press run
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A period when a printing press makes one set of newspapers or magazines

To steal something quickly and run away

6.9

A creek in northeastern Virginia where two Civil War battles took place

Chinese home run
  • Informal
9.0

A surprising and very large success

A path that many people or vehicles use regularly

A major early Civil War battle fought in July 1861 near Manassas, Virginia that the Confederate army won

6.2

An enclosed yard where chickens or ducks are kept

mine run
  • Archaic
8.4

Not special or interesting

nudie run
  • NSFW
9.9

To run naked in public as a joke or dare

rat run
  • UK
8.1

A narrow hidden path people use to go somewhere faster

run-of-the-mine
  • Informal
7.2

Common and not special

run-time error
  • Specialized
5.5

A problem that happens while a program is running because of wrong data or bad instructions

pit run
  • Specialized
7.9

Gravel taken directly from a pit or quarry with mixed stone sizes

pit-run gravel
  • Specialized
7.4

A loose mix of small stones and sand taken from a gravel pit and used as is

tip-and-run
  • Jargon
8.6

A brief attack followed by a rapid retreat

split run
  • Jargon
8.1

A set of newspaper or magazine copies with some pages changed for different areas

Surface Forms

run singular
runs plural

Etymology

Run in knitted clothes, like stockings, comes from threads that 'run' or fall apart and make a line, so a small pull can 'run' into a long gap in the fabric.