noun
runner
RUH-nuh
noun
1
A person who runs, especially as a sport or form of exercise.
"She trains as a competitive runner every morning before work."
"The runner crossed the finish line just ahead of the pack."
2
Someone who carries messages, errands, or goods, often informally or illegally (e.g. a drug runner).
"The restaurant hired a runner to bring dishes from the kitchen to the tables."
3
A long, narrow strip of fabric or carpet used to decorate a table or cover a hallway floor.
"They laid a red runner down the length of the staircase."
4
A long horizontal shoot sent out by certain plants (like strawberries) that roots to form new plants.
"The strawberry plant spread across the bed using runners."
How to Use Runner
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone or something that runs, in senses ranging from athletes to messengers to plant shoots to decorative table cloths.
Common pairings
a marathon runner
a table runner
send a runner
front runner
Word Forms
runners plural, Runners plural
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She trains as a competitive _____ every morning before work.
Etymology
From Middle English rennere, formed from run + -er; cognate with Old Norse rennari ("runner, messenger").