run-of-the-mill
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person got more than half of the vote. The two people with
most votes compete against each other to be elected.
**run-of-the-'mill** *adj* *usually derog* ordinary; not special in any
way: *a run-of-the-mill office job/performance* ➔ see also RUN
**'run-on ,sentence** *n* *AmE* a sentence that contains too many
CLAUSES to be read or understood easily and which is better
made into two or more sentences
**runs** /rʌnz/ also **trots** *n* [the P] *infml* for DIARRHOEA
**runt** /rʌnt/ *n* **1** a small badly developed animal, especially
the smallest of a set of baby pigs **2** *derog* a small unpleasant
person
**'run-through** *n* an act of running through something for
practice (RUN through): *We need one more run-through before
the performance.*
**'run-up** *n* *especially BrE* **1** [C] (in sports) an act or distance of
running in order to gain enough speed for a particular
action: *a bowler's run-up* **2** [the+to)] (the activities in) the
period of time leading up to an event: *During the run-up to
the election the polls showed the Democrats in the lead.* **3** [C]
*AmE* a sudden increase
**run·way** /'rʌnwe/ *n* **1** an area with a specially prepared
hard surface, on which aircraft land and take off ➔ compare
AIRSTRIP **2** *AmE* || **catwalk** *BrE* a narrow raised footway where
fashion models show new clothes: *a dress designed for the
runway rather than the street*
**Run·yon, Da·mon** /'rʌnjən, 'deɪmən/ (1884-1946) a US
writer of humorous short stories about GANGSTERS (=mem-
bers of violent criminal groups) and people who worked on
BROADWAY in New York City. His characters use a lot of
SLANG and unusual expressions, and he is best known for
his collection of stories *Guys and Dolls*, which was later made
into a successful musical show.
**ru·pee** /ru:'pi:/ *n* (a note or coin worth) a unit of money in
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and some other countries
**Ru·pert Bear** /,ru:pət 'beər ||-pərt-/ a little bear who wears
a red SWEATER, yellow CHECKED trousers, and a SCARF. He is
the main character of popular stories for children invented by
the British writer and artist Mary Tourtel.
**rup·ture¹** /'rʌptʃər/ *n* **1** [C,U] *tech* or *fml* (a) sudden breaking
apart or bursting: *the rupture of a blood vessel* | (*fig.*) *It is sad to
see the rupture of friendly relations between our two coun-
tries.* **2** [C] a lump in the front wall of the stomach; HERNIA
**rupture²** *v* *tech* **1** [I;T] to (cause to) break or burst: *They
reported that the pipeline had ruptured.* **2** [T] to cause (one-
self) to have a RUPTURE: *He ruptured himself lifting a heavy
weight.*
**ru·ral** /'rʊərəl/ *adj* of or like the COUNTRYSIDE; concerning
country or village life: *Rural bus services are often
inadequate.* | *a peaceful rural setting* | *rural areas* ➔ opposite
URBAN; compare RUSTIC
**,rural ,free de'livery** *n* *AmE* ➔ see RFD
**'rural ,route** *n* a small road in the country, which is used by
the US Post Office for delivering mail. People who do not
live on a rural route cannot have mail delivered directly to
their houses.
**Rur·i·ta·ni·a** /,rʊərɪ'teniə/ an imaginary small European
country of former times, known for being a place where
many exciting and romantic adventures happen in the novel
the PRISONER OF ZENDA by Anthony HOPE —**Ruritanian** *n*,
*adj*
**ruse** /ru:z||ru:s, ru:z/ *n* a trick to deceive an opponent
**Ru·sed·ski, Greg** /ru:'setski, greg/ (1973-) a British tennis
player who was born in Canada, but who changed NATIONAL-
ALITY. He has won various ATP competitions, but has never
won a Grand Slam competition. He is known for having a
very fast SERVE.
**rush¹** /rʌʃ/ *v* **1** [I+adv/prep; T+obj+adv/prep] to (cause to) go or
move suddenly and with great speed or violence: *They
rushed up the stairs/out into the street/towards the door.* | *The
fire engine rushed past us as we waited at the traffic lights.* |
*Doctors and medical supplies were rushed to the scene of the
accident.* | *We'll try to rush your order through* (=deal with it
especially quickly) *before Saturday*. **2** [I;T(into)] to (cause or
force to) hurry or act (too) quickly: *There's plenty of time; we
needn't rush.* | *Don't rush into marriage; you might regret it
later.* | *You shouldn't rush this sort of work.* | *Don't rush your
breakfast; you'll get indigestion.* **3** [T(into)] to force (someone)
to act or decide hastily: *Don't rush me; let me think about it.* |
*I was rushed into buying these fur boots.* **4** [T] to attack
suddenly and all together: *We rushed the guards and cap-
tured their guns.* **5** [I;T] (in American football) to carry the
ball forward: *The home team rushed for seven yards in the last
play.* **6** [T] *AmE* **a)** to entertain someone or a group of people
before deciding who may become a member of a FRATERNITY
or SORORITY **b)** to go to parties or events of a sorority or
fraternity in order to try to become a member: *Which
fraternity are you going to rush?* **7** be rushed off one's feet
to be so busy that one has no time to stop or rest
**rush²** *n* **1** [C] a sudden rapid and often violent movement:
*There was a rush for* (=towards) *the exits when the film
ended.* | *When the new space programme was agreed, there
was a big rush for the valuable government contracts.* **2** [S,U]
(need for) (too much) hurrying: *We needn't leave yet; what's
all the rush?* | *There's no rush.* | *I've got to write a report for
my boss before tomorrow; it'll be a bit of a rush job.* (=I
haven't enough time to do it properly) **3** [U] great activity
and excitement: *I hate shopping during the Christmas rush
when the shops are crowded.* **4** [S+on/for/ to-v] a sudden great
demand: *There's been a rush on a rush for/a rush to get
tickets for the big football game.* **5** *slang* a sudden strong
feeling of excitement ➔ see also GOLD RUSH **6** [U] *AmE* a
period of time at American colleges during which students
who wish to join fraternities (FRATERNITY) or sororities
(SORORITY) must attend their many social activities in order
to be considered for membership. In the past, rush has
involved too much alcoholic drinking, leading to accidents.
Now dry rush (=no alcohol) is popular at many colleges.
**rush³** *n* a grasslike water plant whose long thin hollow stems
are often dried and made into mats, baskets, and the seats of
chairs: *a rush mat* ➔ **-y** *adj*
**Rush·die, Sal·man** /'rʊʃdi, sæl'mɑ:n/ (1947-) a British
writer born in India, who won the Booker Prize for his novel,
*Midnight's Children* (1981). In 1988 his novel *The Satanic
Verses* offended Muslims, who said that it was insulting to
their religion, with the result that Ayatollah KHOMEINI in
Iran gave a FATWA, an order that Rushdie should be killed. He
had to live in a secret place for many years.
**rush·es** /'rʌʃɪz/ || also **dailies** *AmE* — *n* [P] (in film-making)
the first prints of a film before it has been edited (EDIT): *Most
directors like to see the rushes of the previous day's shooting.*
**'rush hour** also **peak hour, peak time** *BrE* — *n* [C,U]
either of the two periods in the day (usually longer than an
hour) when people are travelling to and from work in a city
and the streets are crowded: *I like to get to work before the
rush hour.* | *rush hour traffic* | *There's a train every half hour
or every 20 minutes at rush hour.*
**CULTURAL NOTE** The images people have of rush hour is of
a lot of tired unsmiling faces crowded into buses and
trains and long lines of cars trying to get to or from work
as fast as possible.
**rush·light** /'rʌʃlaɪt/ *n* a kind of candle made by dipping the
inside part of a RUSH into melted fat, used especially in
former times
**Mount Rushmore**
**Rush·more, Mount** /'rʌʃmɔ:r/ also **Mount Rushmore
National Me'morial** a mountain in South Dakota, US