race (races plural & 3rd person present) (racing present participle) (raced past tense & past participle )
1 n-count A race is a competition to see who is the fastest, for example in running, swimming, or driving.
The women's race was won by the American, Patti Sue Plumer.
2 verb If you race, you take part in a race.
In the 10 years I raced in Europe, 30 drivers were killed... V
They may even have raced each other<endash>but not regularly. V n, Also V against n
3 n-plural The races are a series of horse races that are held in a particular place on a particular day. People go to watch and to bet on which horse will win.
the N
The high point of this trip was a day at the races.
4 n-count A race is a situation in which people or organizations compete with each other for power or control.
usu sing, usu with supp
The race for the White House begins in earnest today...
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arms race
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rat race
5 n-var A race is one of the major groups which human beings can be divided into according to their physical features, such as the colour of their skin.
The College welcomes students of all races, faiths, and nationalities...
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human race
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race relations
6 verb If you race somewhere, you go there as quickly as possible.
He raced across town to the State House building... V adv/prep
7 verb If something races towards a particular state or position, it moves very fast towards that state or position.
Do they realize we are racing towards complete economic collapse?... V prep/adv
8 verb If you race a vehicle or animal, you prepare it for races and make it take part in races.
He still raced sports cars as often as he could. V n
9 verb If your mind races, or if thoughts race through your mind, you think very fast about something, especially when you are in a difficult or dangerous situation.
I made sure I sounded calm but my mind was racing... V
Bits and pieces of the past raced through her mind. V adv/prep
10 verb If your heart races, it beats very quickly because you are excited or afraid.
Her heart raced uncontrollably. V
12 You describe a situation as a race against time when you have to work very fast in order to do something before a particular time, or before another thing happens.
a race against time phrase An air force spokesman said the rescue operation was a race against time.
arms race
An arms race is a situation in which two countries or groups of countries are continually trying to get more and better weapons than each other. n-sing
human race
The human race is the same as mankind. n-sing the N
Can the human race carry on expanding and growing the same way that it is now?
race meeting (race meetings plural )A race meeting is an occasion when a series of horse races are held at the same place, often during a period of several days.
(mainly BRIT) n-count
race relations
Race relations are the ways in which people of different races living together in the same community behave towards one another. n-plural oft N n
race riot (race riots plural )Race riots are violent fights between people of different races living in the same community. n-count usu pl
rat race
If you talk about getting out of the rat race, you mean leaving a job or way of life in which people compete aggressively with each other to be successful. n-sing the N
I had to get out of the rat race and take a look at the real world again.
