runner
/ˈɹʌnɚ/ noun A2- A person who moves, on foot, at a fast pace, especially an athlete. · The first runner to cross the finish line wins the race.· Near-synonym: racer
- Any entrant, person or animal (especially a horse), for a race or any competition; a candidate for an election. · The mare is the stables' runner for the 5.15 race at Epsom.· The judge said she would not be a runner in the upcoming elections.
- A competitor in a poker tournament.
- Somebody who controls or manages (e.g. a system).
- A person or vessel that runs blockades or engages in smuggling. · The gunrunners were arrested leaving the airport.
- A player who runs for a batsman who is too injured to run; he is dressed exactly as the injured batsman, and carries a bat.
- A baserunner. · The runner was out at second.
- A person (from one or the other team) who runs out onto the field during the game to take verbal instructions from the coach to the players. A runner mustn't interfere with play, and may have to wear an identifying shirt to make clear his or her purpose on the field.
Plural runners
From the library
A goat-herd seeing him stop, mocked him, saying “The little one is the best runner of the two.” The Hound replied, “You do not see the difference between us: I was only running for a dinner, but he for his life.”
Anne reveled in the drive to the hall, slipping along over the satin-smooth roads with the snow crisping under the runners.
Caderousse, more and more astonished, went toward a large oaken cupboard, opened it, and gave the abbé a long purse of faded red silk, round which were two copper runners that had once been gilt.
We were both swift runners and in fairly good training, but we soon found that we had no chance of overtaking him.
Learn runner in real texts
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