race

I

[[t]reɪs[/t]]

n. v. raced, rac•ing

1) a contest of speed, as in running, riding, driving, or sailing

2) races, a series of races, run at a set time over a regular course

3) cvb any contest or competition, esp. to achieve superiority:

an arms race[/ex]

4) an urgent effort, as when a solution is imperative:

a race to find a vaccine[/ex]

5) onward movement; an onward or regular course

6) the course of time or life

7) gel

a) a strong or rapid current of water, as in the sea or a river

b) the channel or bed of such a current or of any stream

8) civ an artificial channel leading water to or from a place where its energy is utilized

9) mac a channel, groove, or the like, for sliding or rolling a part or parts, as the balls of a ball bearing

10) to engage in a contest of speed; run a race

11) to run horses or dogs in races

12) to run, move, or go swiftly

13) (of an engine, wheel, etc.) to run with undue or uncontrolled speed when the load is diminished without corresponding diminution of fuel, force, etc

14) to run a race against

15) cvb to enter (a horse, car, etc.) in a race

16) aum to cause to run, move, or go at high speed:

to race a motor[/ex]

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Etymology: 1250–1300; < ON rās a running, race II

race

[[t]reɪs[/t]] n.

1) a group of persons related by common descent or heredity

2) pan Anthropol.

a) pan a classification of modern humans, sometimes, esp. formerly, based on an arbitrary selection of physical characteristics, as skin color, facial form, or eye shape, and now frequently based on such genetic markers as blood groups

b) a human population partially isolated reproductively from other populations, whose members share a greater degree of physical and genetic similarity with one another than with other humans

3) any people united by common history, language, cultural traits, etc.:

the Dutch race[/ex]

4) the human race or family; humankind

5) zool. Zool. a variety; subspecies

6) any group, class, or kind, esp. of persons

7) vin the characteristic taste or flavor of wine

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Etymology: 1490–1500; < F < It razza, of uncert. orig.