race

/reɪs/

/reɪs/

Other forms: races; racing; raced

Race means to speed or move quickly. A race is a contest to see who is moving the quickest. Race can also mean genetic grouping––if you are reading this, chances are you're a member of the "human race."

After watching an exciting horse race, your heart may be racing, meaning your pulse is moving fast. You may find yourself racing through your day if you have too much to do, or you might race a friend home from school to see which is fastest, walking or taking the bus. On a form that asks you your race, you will often be prompted with racial categories, such as Caucasian, African-American, or Native American.

Definitions of race

1. noun

   a contest of speed
   “the race is to the swift”

   types:

   auto race, automobile race, car race

   a race between (usually high-performance) automobiles

   bicycle race

   a race between people riding bicycles

   boat race

   a race between people rowing or driving boats

   burnup

   a high-speed motorcycle race on a public road

   chariot race

   a race between ancient chariots

   dog racing

   a race between dogs; usually an occasion for betting on the outcome

   foot race, footrace, run

   a race run on foot

   freestyle

   a race (as in swimming) in which each contestant has a free choice of the style to use

   cross country

   a long race run over open country

   heat

   a preliminary race in which the winner advances to a more important race

   horse race

   a contest of speed between horses; usually held for the purpose of betting

   potato race

   a novelty race in which competitors move potatoes from one place to another one at a time

   sack race

   a novelty race in which competitors jump ahead with their feet confined in a sack

   scratch race

   a race in which all contestants start from scratch (on equal terms)

   ski race, skiing race

   a race between people wearing skis

   relay, relay race

   a race between teams; each member runs or swims part of the distance

   repechage

   a race (especially in rowing) in which runners-up in the eliminating heats compete for a place in the final race

   Grand Prix

   one of several international races

   rally

   an automobile race run over public roads

   Tour de France

   a French bicycle race for professional cyclists that lasts three weeks and covers about 3,000 miles

   sailing-race, yacht race

   a race between crews of people in yachts

   fun run, funrun

   a footrace run for fun (often including runners who are sponsored for a charity)

   marathon

   a foot race of 26 miles and 385 yards

   Iditarod, Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race

   an important dogsled race run annually on the Iditarod Trail

   claiming race

   a horse race in which each owner declares before the race at what price his horse will be offered for sale after the race

   selling race

   a horse race in which the winning horse must be put up for auction

   harness race, harness racing

   a horse race between people riding in sulkies behind horses that are trotting or pacing

   stake race

   a horse race in which part of the prize is put up by the owners of the horses in the race

   steeplechase

   a horse race over an obstructed course

   obstacle race

   a race in which competitors must negotiate obstacles

   steeplechase

   a footrace of usually 3000 meters over a closed track with hurdles and a water jump

   thoroughbred race

   a race between thoroughbred horses

   downhill

   a ski race down a trail

   slalom

   a downhill race over a winding course defined by upright poles

   torch race

   (ancient Greece) in which a torch is passed from one runner to the next

   track event

   a footrace performed on a track (indoor or outdoor)

   derby

   an annual horse race, especially one limited to three-year-old horses

   type of:

   competition, contest

   an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
2. noun

   any competition
   “the race for the presidency”

   types:

   arms race

   a competition between nations to have the most powerful armaments

   campaign, political campaign, run

   a race between candidates for elective office

   campaign for governor, governor's race

   a race for election to the governorship

   senate campaign, senate race

   a race for election to the senate

   type of:

   competition, contest

   an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
3. verb

   compete in a race
   “let's race and see who gets there first”

   synonyms: run

   types:

   show

   finish third or better in a horse or dog race

   place

   finish second or better in a horse or dog race

   boat-race

   participate in a boat race

   horse-race

   compete in a horse race

   campaign, run

   run, stand, or compete for an office or a position

   speed skate

   race on skates

   jockey

   ride a racehorse as a professional jockey

   stump

   travel through a district and make political speeches

   rerun

   run again for office

   whistlestop

   tour the country in order to solicit votes for an election

   cross-file, register

   have one's name listed as a candidate for several parties

   type of:

   compete, contend, vie

   compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
4. verb

   move fast
   “The cars raced down the street”

   synonyms: belt along, bucket along, cannonball along, hasten, hie, hotfoot, pelt along, rush, rush along, speed, step on it

   types:

   barge, push forward, thrust ahead

   push one's way

   buck, charge, shoot, shoot down, tear

   move quickly and violently

   dart, dash, flash, scoot, scud, shoot

   run or move very quickly or hastily

   plunge

   dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity

   rip

   move precipitously or violently

   type of:

   go, locomote, move, travel

   change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
5. verb

   to work as fast as possible towards a goal, sometimes in competition with others
   “We are racing to find a cure for AIDS”

   type of:

   act, move

   perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
6. verb

   cause to move fast or to rush or race
   “The psychologist raced the rats through a long maze”

   synonyms: rush

   type of:

   displace, move

   cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense
7. noun

   people who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock
   “some biologists doubt that there are important genetic differences between races of human beings”

   types:

   color, colour, people of color, people of colour

   a race with skin pigmentation different from the white race (especially Blacks)

   Herrenvolk, master race

   a race that considers itself superior to all others and fitted to rule the others

   Black race, Negro race, Negroid race

   a dark-skinned race

   Caucasian race, Caucasoid race, White people, White race

   a light-skinned race

   Mongolian race, Mongoloid race, Yellow race

   an Asian race

   Amerindian race, Indian race

   usually included in the Mongoloid race

   Indian race

   sometimes included in the Caucasian race; native to the subcontinent of India

   Slavic people, Slavic race

   a race of people speaking a Slavonic language

   type of:

   group, grouping

   any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
8. noun

   (biology) a taxonomic group that is a division of a species; usually arises as a consequence of geographical isolation within a species
   synonyms: subspecies

   type of:

   taxon, taxonomic category, taxonomic group

   animal or plant group having natural relations
9. noun

   a canal for a current of water
   synonyms: raceway

   type of:

   canal

   long and narrow strip of water made for boats or for irrigation
10. noun

    the flow of air that is driven backwards by an aircraft propeller
    synonyms: airstream, backwash, slipstream, wash

    type of:

    flow

    any uninterrupted stream or discharge