noun |
1. A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics. |
2. A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution: the German race. |
3. A genealogical line; a lineage. |
4. Humans considered as a group. |
5. Biology An interbreeding, usually geographically isolated population of organisms differing from other populations of the same species in the frequency of hereditary traits. A race that has been given formal taxonomic recognition is known as a subspecies. |
6. Biology A breed or strain, as of domestic animals. |
7. A distinguishing or characteristic quality, such as the flavor of a wine. |
8. Sports A competition of speed, as in running or riding. |
9. Sports A series of such competitions held at a specified time on a regular course: a fan of the dog races. |
10. An extended competition in which participants struggle like runners to be the winner: the presidential race. |
11. Steady or rapid onward movement: the race of time. |
12. A strong or swift current of water. |
13. The channel of such a current. |
14. An artificial channel built to transport water and use its energy. Also called raceway. |
15. A groovelike part of a machine in which a moving part slides or rolls. |
16. See slipstream. |
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verb-intransitive |
1. Sports To compete in a contest of speed. |
2. To move rapidly or at top speed: We raced home. My heart was racing with fear. |
3. To run too rapidly due to decreased resistance or unnecessary provision of fuel: adjusted the idle to keep the engine from racing. |
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verb-transitive |
1. Sports To compete against in a race. |
2. Sports To cause to compete in a race: She races horses for a living. |
3. To transport rapidly or at top speed; rush: raced the injured motorist to the hospital. |
4. To cause (an engine with the gears disengaged, for example) to run swiftly or too swiftly. |
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