Definition

1. Noun:

   • A competition of speed: A contest to determine who or what is the fastest over a specific distance or course.
   • A group of people sharing common physical or genetic traits: A major division of humankind based on particular physical characteristics, often considered within a social or anthropological context.
   • A taxonomic subdivision within a species: In biology, a population within a species that is distinct, often due to geographical isolation.
   • A strong or swift current of water: A channel or flow of water, such as a watercourse or millrace.
   • The onward course of life or a career: The progression or course of one's life or a particular endeavor.

2. Verb:

   • To compete in a speed contest: To take part in a competition where the goal is to be the fastest.
   • To move or operate at high speed: To go, drive, or function very quickly.
   • To cause to move or operate at high speed: To make something move or function at a very fast pace.
   • To engage in a competitive effort towards a goal: To strive urgently, often in competition with others, to achieve something.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • She won the 100-meter race. (She was the fastest in the 100-meter speed competition.)
  • Discrimination based on race is unacceptable. (Discrimination based on a person's ethnic group is wrong.)
  • The mill was powered by a water race. (The mill used a channel of flowing water for power.)
  • His political race for the senate was successful. (His campaign and progression to become a senator succeeded.)

• Verb:

  • The horses will race this afternoon. (The horses will compete in a speed contest this afternoon.)
  • He raced to catch the bus. (He moved very quickly to catch the bus.)
  • Don't race the engine when the car is cold. (Do not make the engine run at very high speed when it's cold.)
  • Companies are racing to develop a new vaccine. (Companies are competing urgently to create a new vaccine.)

Advanced Usage

• "A race against time": A situation where one must do something very quickly before it is too late.
  • The rescue team was in a race against time to find the survivors.
• "To race through something": To do or complete something very quickly.
  • She raced through her homework so she could go out.
• "The human race": Humankind as a whole.
  • Climate change is a challenge for the entire human race.

Variants and Related Words

• Racing (n/adj): The sport of competing in races (e.g., horse racing, car racing). Also used as an adjective (e.g., a racing car).
• Racer (n): A person, animal, or vehicle that competes in races.
• Racial (adj): Relating to race (the social/biological group).
  • Racial equality is an important goal.

Synonyms

• Noun (competition): Contest, dash, sprint, marathon.
• Noun (people): Ethnicity, ethnic group, people.
• Verb: Speed, dash, rush, hurry, sprint, compete.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Race off: To leave very quickly.
  • He raced off without saying goodbye.
• Race ahead: To progress or move forward very quickly, often ahead of others.
  • Our project is racing ahead of schedule.

Related Idioms

• "A rat race": A fiercely competitive struggle for success, especially in one's career, seen as stressful and relentless.
  • He quit his job in the city to escape the rat race.
• "To race someone's engine": To rev an engine quickly while the vehicle is stationary.
  • The driver at the traffic light was racing his engine impatiently.

Noun

1. a canal for a current of water
2. the flow of air that is driven backwards by an aircraft propeller
3. (biology) a taxonomic group that is a division of a species; usually arises as a consequence of geographical isolation within a species
4. 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
5. a contest of speed
   • the race is to the swift
6. any competition
   • the race for the presidency

Verb

1. cause to move fast or to rush or race
   • The psychologist raced the rats through a long maze
2. to work as fast as possible towards a goal, sometimes in competition with others
   • We are racing to find a cure for AIDS
3. compete in a race
   • he is running the Marathon this year
   • let's race and see who gets there first
4. move fast
   • He rushed down the hall to receive his guests
   • The cars raced down the street