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race

Pronunciation: /ɹeɪs/

The English word “race” has 20 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A contest between people, animals, vehicles, etc. where the goal is to be the first to reach some objective.
  2. Swift progress; rapid motion; an instance of moving or driving at high speed.
  3. A race condition; a bug or problem that occurs when two or more components attempt to use the same resource at the same time.
  4. A sequence of events; a progressive movement toward a goal.
  5. A fast-moving current of water.
  6. A water channel, especially one built to lead water to or from a point where it is utilised, such as that which powers a millwheel.
  7. A path that something or someone moves along.
  8. A groove on a sewing machine or a loom along which the shuttle moves.
  9. A ring with a groove in which rolling elements (such as balls) ride, forming part of a rolling-element bearing (for example, a ball bearing).
  10. A keno gambling session.
  11. A large group of people distinguished from others on the basis of a common heritage.
  12. A large group of people distinguished from others on the basis of common physical characteristics, such as skin color or hair type.
  13. A large group of people distinguished from others on the basis of shared characteristics or qualities, for example social qualities.
  14. A large group of nonhumans distinguished from others on the basis of a common heritage.
  15. A group of organisms distinguished by common characteristics; often an informal infraspecific rank in taxonomy, below species
  16. A population geographically separated from others of its species that develops significantly different characteristics; a mating group.

verb

  1. To take part in a race (in the sense of a contest).
  2. To compete against in a race (contest).
  3. To move or drive at high speed; to hurry or speed.
  4. To run rapidly when not engaged to a transmission.

Etymology

From Middle English race, partially from Old English rǣs (“a race, swift or violent running, rush, onset”), from Proto-West Germanic *rās; and partially from Old Norse rás (“a running, race”); both from Proto-Germanic *rēsō (“a course”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁s- (“to flow, rush”). Cognate with Middle Low German râs ("a strong current"; whence German Low German Raas (“mad rush, rage,…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.