ˈrʌnə n. 1 a
person who runs,
esp. in a race. 2 a a creeping plant-stem
that can
take root. b a twining
plant. 3 a
rod or
groove or
blade on
which a
thing slides. 4 a sliding ring on a rod etc. 5 a
messenger, scout,
collector, or
agent for a bank
etc.; a
tout. 6
hist. a
police officer. 7 a
running bird. 8 a a smuggler. b = blockade-runner. 9 a revolving
millstone. 10 Naut. a
rope in a
single block with one end round a tackle-block
and the other having a
hook. 11 (in full runner bean)
Brit. a twining
bean plant, Phaseolus multiflorus, with
red flowers and long
green seed pods.
Also called
scarlet runner. 12
each of the long pieces on the
underside of a sledge etc. that forms the
contact in sliding. 13 a
roller for
moving a
heavy article. 14 a long
narrow ornamental cloth or
rug. ødo a runner sl. leave hastily;
flee. runner-up (pl. runners-up or runner-ups) the
competitor or
team taking second
place.