race (1) — ONAD

race1 /rās, reɪs

▸ noun

1 a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc., to see which is the fastest in covering a set course:

I won the first 50-lap race.

▪ (the races) a series of races for horses or dogs, held at a fixed time on a set course.

▪ [in singular] a situation in which individuals or groups compete to be first to achieve a particular objective:

the race for nuclear power.

▪ archaic the course of the sun or moon through the heavens:

the industrious sun already half his race hath run.

2 a strong or rapid current flowing through a narrow channel in the sea or a river:

angling for tuna in turbulent tidal races.

3 a water channel, especially one built to lead water to or from a point where its energy is utilized, as in a mill or mine. See also millrace.

4 a smooth ring-shaped groove or guide in which a ball bearing or roller bearing runs.

▸ verb

1 [no object] compete with another or others to see who is fastest at covering a set course or achieving an objective:

the vet took blood samples from the horses before they raced

[with object] attorneys have to think twice before they race each other to the courthouse.

▪ compete regularly in races as a sport or leisure activity:

the next year, he raced again for the team.

▪ [with object] prepare and enter (an animal or vehicle) in races as a sport or leisure activity:

he raced his three horses simply for the fun of it.

2 [no object, with adverbial] move or progress swiftly or at full speed:

I raced into the house

figurative she spoke automatically, while her mind raced ahead.

▪ operate or cause to operate at excessive speed:

[with object] she'd driven like a madwoman, racing the engine and swerving around corners.

▪ (of a person's heart or pulse) beat faster than usual because of fear or excitement.

– PHRASES
a race against time
a situation in which something must be done before a particular point in time:

it was a race against time to reach shore before the dinghy sank.

a race to the bottom (also a race for the bottom)
a situation characterized by a progressive lowering or deterioration of standards, especially (in business contexts) as a result of the pressure of competition:

unsustainable tendering practices had created a race to the bottom among contractors.

– ORIGIN late Old English , from Old Norse rás ‘current’. It was originally a northern English word with the sense ‘rapid forward movement’, which gave rise to the senses ‘contest of speed’ (early 16th century) and ‘channel, path’ (i.e. the space traversed). The verb dates from the late 15th century.