running
/ˈrʌnɪŋ
/noun [mass noun]
1The action or movement of a runner: his running tore United to shreds...
- While the two strikers were full of running and movement, they faced a wall of defenders who played very deep on account of their obvious lack of pace.
- Adding to all this the running between wickets was near perfect.
- All that running and sprinting made my muscles all tight and painful to stretch out.
1.1The sport of racing on foot: marathon running...
- It's important to take it steadily when you first decide to take up any sport and running is no different.
- Now living and working in New York, she decided to take up running because other sports were so expensive.
- However, as with other sports, if good technique is applied, running can be both enjoyable and rewarding.
Synonyms
sprinting, sprint, racing;
jogging, jog
2The action of managing or operating something: the day-to-day running of the office...
- My son has a new head at his primary school who does no teaching and has no involvement with the day-to-day running of the school.
- In her role as manager, she was responsible for the day-to-day running of the premises.
- Head teachers look after the day-to-day running of a school.
Synonyms
administration, management, managing, organization, coordination, orchestration, handling, direction, conduct, overseeing, controlling, control, regulation, supervision, charge
operation, working, functioning, performance
adjective
1 [attributive] Denoting something that runs, in particular:Kevin hit his straps and directed play through the half forward zone, bringing the running players into the game....
- I looked for an emotion - of pain, of weariness, of Basil Brush exuberance - but of course it was just a running fox.
- Team roping involves two people on horseback trying to stop a running steer.
1.1(Of water) flowing naturally or supplied to a building through pipes and taps: hot and cold running water...
- It is not known whether the premises have a working electricity supply or running water and much of the estate has fallen into disrepair.
- It is an exciting moment for me when I see a blade of grass or see a leaf of a tree, and when I listen to birds chattering and to running water in a stream.
- The path to the top of the mountain runs beside the running water of a stream.
Synonyms
flowing, streaming, gushing, rushing, moving
1.2(Of a sore or a part of the body) exuding liquid or pus: a running sore...
- But she had an offensive, running sore that lay open from below her knee right down to her foot.
2Done while running: a running jump...
- He must have taken a bit of a running jump at it though, because he travelled about half an inch before capitulating in a salty heap.
- I taking a running jump and land a nice axe kick on him.
- I take a running start and jump over the first, which is as high as my hip.
3Continuous or recurring over a long period: a running joke...
- Not only do the running expenses continue, but they usually increase in times of drought.
- Still, as their winning streak drained the suspense out of the show, no event needed a running joke more.
- Like many Scottish men typecast by gender, Max's chosen career is something of a running joke amongst members of his family.
Synonyms
continuous, ongoing, sustained, unceasing, incessant, ceaseless, uninterrupted, constant, perpetual, unbroken;
recurrent, recurring, perennial
3.1 [postpositive] Consecutive; in succession: he failed to produce an essay for the third week running...
- Those who are absent from classes for two weeks running or 50 class hours added up in one semester will be given a record of a demerit for misconduct.
- The former gospel singer has held onto her number one spot for the second week running.
Synonyms
in succession, in a row, in sequence, one after the other, consecutively;
straight, together
informal on the trot
Phrases
in (or out of) the running
make the running
take a running jump
take up the running