ENGLISH
REFERENCE

runner

n.
US //ˈɹənɝ// UK //ɹˈʌnɐ// run·ner
  1. 1 athlete (n.)
    A2 Elementary Sport

    a person who runs for exercise or in a race.

    an individual who participates in the sport of running or competes in races.

    Example

    The marathon runner crossed the finish line after four hours of racing.

    Example

    Elite runners often follow a rigorous training schedule that balances high-intensity intervals with long-distance endurance sessions.
  2. 2 messenger or assistant (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    someone who carries messages or does small jobs for a team.

    a person employed to carry messages, collect items, or perform errands, especially in a film studio or office.

    Example

    He got a job as a runner on a movie set to learn how films are made.

    Example

    The production runner spent the afternoon delivering revised scripts to the lead actors and ensuring the catering arrived on schedule.
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  1. 3 narrow rug or cloth (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a long, narrow rug for a hallway or a long cloth for a table.

    a long, narrow carpet designed for corridors or stairs, or a decorative strip of fabric placed across a table.

    Example

    We bought a red runner to protect the wooden floor in the hallway.

    Example

    The interior designer suggested a silk table runner to add a touch of elegance to the dining room without covering the mahogany wood.
  2. 4 plant stem (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Botany

    a stem that grows along the ground and starts new plants.

    a slender horizontal stem, or stolon, that grows along the soil surface and takes root at intervals to form new plants.

    Example

    Strawberry plants spread quickly because they send out runners.

    Example

    The gardener carefully clipped the runners to ensure the parent plant directed its energy toward fruit production rather than vegetative expansion.
  3. 5 sliding part (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a part of a machine or object that slides, like the blade on an ice skate.

    a part on which something slides, such as the blade of an ice skate or the rail of a drawer.

    Example

    The runners on the old wooden drawer were stuck, making it hard to open.

    Example

    The bobsleigh's steel runners must be polished to a mirror finish to minimize friction against the ice during the descent.
  4. 6 shoes (n.)
    B1 Intermediate British English Dialect

    comfortable shoes used for running or casual wear.

    a pair of lightweight, cushioned shoes designed for athletic activities.

    Example

    Don't forget to pack your runners for the gym tomorrow.

    Example

    He laced up his runners and headed out for a quick jog before the rain started.

    Teacher's tip

    This term is common in Ireland, Scotland, Australia, and parts of Canada; American speakers usually say 'sneakers' and British speakers often say 'trainers'.
  5. 7 smuggler (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    a person who secretly brings illegal goods into a place.

    a person who engages in the illicit transport of goods, often used in compounds like 'gun-runner' or 'rum-runner'.

    Example

    The coast guard caught the blockade runner trying to enter the port.

    Example

    Historical accounts describe the daring exploits of blockade runners who supplied the besieged city during the naval embargo.
  6. 8 to leave quickly (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang British English

    to run away from a place to avoid trouble.

    an act of fleeing or making a quick escape, typically to avoid payment or capture.

    Example

    The teenagers did a runner from the restaurant without paying the bill.

    Example

    After the window shattered, the suspects did a runner before the police could arrive at the scene.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the phrase 'do a runner'.
Origin

From Middle English rennere, rynner, urnare, equivalent to run + -er. Cognate with Old Norse rennari (“runner; messenger”). Displaced earlier Middle English runel (“runner”), from Old English rynel (“runner”; also “messenger, courier”).

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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