race 1 (r?s)n.1. A group of people identified as distinct from other groups because of supposed physical or genetic traits shared by the group. Most biologists and anthropologists do not recognize race as a biologically valid classification, in part because there is more genetic variation within groups than between them.2. A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution: the Celtic race.3. A genealogical line; a lineage.4. Humans considered as a group.5. Biology a. A usually geographically isolated population of organisms that differs from other populations of the same species in certain heritable traits: an island race of birds.b. A breed or strain, as of domestic animals.6. A distinguishing or characteristic quality, such as the flavor of a wine.adj.1. Of or relating to race; racial: race relations; race quotas.2. Of or relating to forms of popular entertainment made by and largely marketed to African Americans in the early 1900s: race literature; race records.[Middle French rasse, race, lineage, race, from Old Italian razza, probably from Old French haraz, stud farm for horses : Old French *har-, gray, gray-haired (as in French dialectal (Normandy) harousse, nag, old mare; perhaps in reference to the graying of stud horses with age and from Old Norse h?rr, gray-haired, hoaryakin to English hoar) or Old French *har-, hair (perhaps in reference to the fact that stud horses are no longer regularly saddled; akin to French dialectal (Norman) har, hair, in monter á har, to ride on hair, ride bareback, from Old Norse h?r, hairakin to English hair) + Old French -az, -as, n. suff. (from Latin -?ceus, -aceous).]race 2 (r?s)n.1. Sports a. A competition of speed, as in running or riding.b. races A series of such competitions held at a specified time on a regular course: a fan of the dog races.2. An extended competition in which participants struggle like runners to be the winner: the presidential race.3. Steady or rapid onward movement: the race of time.4. a. A strong or swift current of water.b. The channel of such a current.c. An artificial channel built to transport water and use its energy. Also called raceway.5. A groovelike part of a machine in which a moving part slides or rolls.6. See slipstream.v. raced, rac·ing, rac·es v.intr.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.v.tr.1. Sports a. To compete against in a race.b. To cause to compete in a race: She races horses for a living.2. To transport rapidly or at top speed; rush: raced the injured motorist to the hospital.3. To cause (an engine with the gears disengaged, for example) to run swiftly or too swiftly.[Middle English ras, from Old Norse r?s, rush, running; see ers- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.race (re?s) n1. a contest of speed, as in running, swimming, driving, riding, etc2. any competition or rivalry: the race for the White House. 3. rapid or constant onward movement: the race of time. 4. (Physical Geography) a rapid current of water, esp one through a narrow channel that has a tidal range greater at one end than the other5. (Human Geography) a channel of a stream, esp one for conducting water to or from a water wheel or other device for utilizing its energy: a mill race. 6. (Mechanical Engineering) a. a channel or groove that contains ball bearings or roller bearings or that restrains a sliding componentb. the inner or outer cylindrical ring in a ball bearing or roller bearing7. (Agriculture) Austral and NZ a narrow passage or enclosure in a sheep yard through which sheep pass individually, as to a sheep dip8. (Australian Rules Football) Austral a wire tunnel through which footballers pass from the changing room onto a football field9. (Mining & Quarrying) NZ a line of containers coupled together, used in mining to transport coal10. (Aeronautics) another name for slipstream111. archaic the span or course of life12. not in the race informal Austral given or having no chancevb13. to engage in a contest of speed with (another)14. to engage (oneself or one’s representative) in a race, esp as a profession or pastime: to race pigeons. 15. to move or go as fast as possible16. (Automotive Engineering) to run (an engine, shaft, propeller, etc) or (of an engine, shaft, propeller, etc) to run at high speed, esp after reduction of the load or resistance[C13: from Old Norse r?s running; related to Old English r?s attack]race (re?s) n1. (Anthropology & Ethnology) a group of people of common ancestry, distinguished from others by physical characteristics, such as hair type, colour of eyes and skin, stature, etc. Principal races are Caucasoid, Mongoloid, and Negroid2. (Anthropology & Ethnology) the human race human beings collectively3. (Biology) a group of animals or plants having common characteristics that distinguish them from other members of the same species, usually forming a geographically isolated group; subspecies4. a group of people sharing the same interests, characteristics, etc: the race of authors. 5. play the race card informal to introduce the subject of race into a public discussion, esp to gain a strategic advantage[C16: from French, from Italian razza, of uncertain origin]race (re?s) n (Plants) a ginger root[C15: from Old French rais, from Latin r?d?x a root]Race (re?s) n (Placename) Cape Race a cape at the SE extremity of Newfoundland, CanadaCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014race1 (re?s) n., v. raced, rac?ing. n. 1. a contest of speed, as in running, riding, driving, or sailing. 2. races, a series of races, run at a set time over a regular course. 3. any contest or competition, esp. to achieve superiority: an arms race. 4. an urgent effort, as when a solution is imperative: a race to find a vaccine. 5. onward movement; an onward or regular course. 6. the course of time or life. 7. a. a strong or rapid current of water, as in the sea or a river. b. the channel or bed of such a current or of any stream. 8. an artificial channel leading water to or from a place where its energy is utilized. 9. a channel, groove, or the like, for sliding or rolling a part or parts, as the balls of a ball bearing. v.i. 10. to engage in a contest of speed; run a race. 11. to run horses or dogs in races. 12. to run, move, or go swiftly. 13. (of an engine, wheel, etc.) to run with undue or uncontrolled speed when the load is diminished without corresponding diminution of fuel, force, etc. v.t. 14. to run a race against. 15. to enter (a horse, car, etc.) in a race. 16. to cause to run, move, or go at high speed: to race a motor. [1250?1300;