Definition of "runner"

Agent noun of run; one who runs.

1. A person who moves, on foot, at a fast pace, especially an athlete.  examples

2. Any entrant, person or animal (especially a horse), for a race or any competition; a candidate for an election.  examples

3. (poker slang) A competitor in a poker tournament.

4. Somebody who controls or manages (e.g. a system).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • […] at least half of which would be put into the pool for the winner, the rest kept for the runners of the system to cover costs and more than likely make a fair profit.

     1998 June 12, Daniel Jonathan Kirk, “tipping competitions”, in aus.legal (Usenet)

5. A person or vessel who runs blockades or engages in smuggling. (Especially used in combination, e.g. gunrunner).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • The modus operandi used by the idol and antique runners is to order consignments of fakes.

     1992, Hamendar Bhisham Pal, The Plunder of Art, page 75

6. (cricket) A player who runs for a batsman who is too injured to run; he is dressed exactly as the injured batsman, and carries a bat.  examples

7. (baseball, softball) A baserunner.  examples

8. (Australian rules football) A person (from one or the other team) who runs out onto the field during the game to take verbal instructions from the coach to the players. A runner mustn't interfere with play, and may have to wear an identifying shirt to make clear his or her purpose on the field.  examples

9. Anyone sent on an errand or with communications, especially for a bank (or, historically, a foot soldier responsible for carrying messages during war).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • By 1963, Carmine was working as a "runner" for an accounting firm, and he would drop by 1619 Broadway to knock on doors in hopes of selling off some of his songs

     1990, Wayne Jancik, The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, page 242

10. A restaurant employee responsible for taking food from the kitchens to the tables.  examples

11. (US, dated) A trusty (prisoner granted special privileges).  quotations  examples

    Quotations

    • In our prisons you might find a condemned man working as a runner, a trusty, which is about as far from segregation as you can get.

      1959, Frederick S. Baldi, My Unwelcome Guests, page 25

12. (sports slang) An employee of a sports agent who tries to recruit possible player clients for the agent.  quotations

    Quotations

    • This week hundreds of NFL agents gathered to hear an honorable man talk about a noble pipedream. It was a discussion about a significant step to end one of the cornerstones of corruption in college football: runners. Not the backs getting their 40 times tested at the scouting combine but the slimeball trolls who work on behalf of agents to help recruit — a generous word — football prospects by illegally giving them cash (or cars or money for family members or rent for a nice house) so the player then signs with the agent upon turning pro.

      Freeman, Mike (February 25, 2012), “Runners' world: Union boss Smith's noble idea likely stuck at the start”, in (please provide the title of the work)‎, CBSSports.com, retrieved March 19, 2014

13. A person hired by a gambling establishment to locate potential customers and bring them in.  examples

14. One who runs away; a deserter or escapee.  examples

15. (film) An assistant. (clarification of this definition is needed)  examples

(slang, usually in the phrase 'do a runner') A quick escape away from a scene.

(Australia, Canada, Ireland, Scotland) A type of soft-soled shoe originally intended for runners.  examples

Part of a shoe that is stitched to the bottom of the upper so it can be glued to the sole.  examples

A part of an apparatus that moves quickly.  examples

A mechanical part intended to guide or aid something else to move (using wheels or sliding).

1. A smooth strip on which a sledge runs.  examples

2. The blade of an ice skate.  examples

3. The channel or strip on which a drawer is opened and closed.  examples

4. Part of a mechanism which allows something to be pulled out for maintenance.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Maintenance was simplified by making all components easily accessible and easy to remove: for example, the air compressors in the short nose slide out on runners.

     1962 June, “Beyond the Channel: U.S.S.R.: A 3,000 h.p. diesel-hydraulic from MaK”, in Modern Railways, page 416

5. The curved base of a rocking chair.  examples

6. In saddlery, a loop of metal through which a rein is passed.  examples

7. In molding, a channel cut in a mold.  examples

8. The rotating-stone of a grinding-mill.  examples

9. The movable piece to which the ribs of an umbrella are attached.  examples

10. A tool in which lenses are fastened for polishing.  examples

(slang) An automobile; a working or driveable automobile.

A strip of fabric used to decorate or protect a table or dressing table.  examples

A long, narrow carpet for a high traffic area such as a hall or stairs.  examples

(slang) A part of a cigarette that is burning unevenly.

(botany) A long stolon sent out by a plant (such as strawberry), in order to root new plantlets, or a plant that propagates by using such runners.  examples

(climbing) A short sling with a carabiner on either end, used to link the climbing rope to a bolt or other protection such as a nut or friend.  examples

A leaping food fish (Elagatis pinnulatis) of Florida and the West Indies; the skipjack, shoemaker, or yellowtail.  examples

(nautical, sailing) A rope to increase the power of a tackle.  examples

(video games) A speedrunner.  examples

An idea or plan that has potential to be adopted or put into operation.  examples

A running gag  quotations  examples