race

race ¹  (rs)

n.

1. A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics.

2. A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution: the German race.

3. A genealogical line; a lineage.

4. Humans considered as a group.

5. Biology

a. An interbreeding, usually geographically isolated population of organisms differing from other populations of the same species in the frequency of hereditary traits. A race that has been given formal taxonomic recognition is known as a subspecies.

b. A breed or strain, as of domestic animals.

6. A distinguishing or characteristic quality, such as the flavor of a wine.

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[French, from Old French, from Old Italian razza, race, lineage.]

Usage Note: The notion of race is nearly as problematic from a scientific point of view as it is from a social one. European physical anthropologists of the 17th and 18th centuries proposed various systems of racial classifications based on such observable characteristics as skin color, hair type, body proportions, and skull measurements, essentially codifying the perceived differences among broad geographic populations of humans. The traditional terms for these populationsCaucasoid (or Caucasian), Mongoloid, Negroid, and in some systems Australoidare now controversial in both technical and nontechnical usage, and in some cases they may well be considered offensive. (Caucasian does retain a certain currency in American English, but it is used almost exclusively to mean "white" or "European" rather than "belonging to the Caucasian race," a group that includes a variety of peoples generally categorized as nonwhite.) The biological aspect of race is described today not in observable physical features but rather in such genetic characteristics as blood groups and metabolic processes, and the groupings indicated by these factors seldom coincide very neatly with those put forward by earlier physical anthropologists. Citing this and other pointssuch as the fact that a person who is considered black in one society might be nonblack in anothermany cultural anthropologists now consider race to be more a social or mental construct than an objective biological fact.

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race ²  (rs)

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.

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[Middle English ras, from Old Norse rs, rush, running; see ers- in Indo-European roots.]

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race ¹

Noun

1. a contest of speed

2. any competition or rivalry: the arms race

3. a rapid current of water

4. a channel of a stream: a mill race

5. Austral & NZ a narrow passage through which sheep pass individually, as to a sheep dip

Verb

[racing, raced]

1. to take part in a contest of speed with (someone)

2. to enter (an animal or vehicle) in a race: to race greyhounds

3. to travel as fast as possible

4. (of an engine) to run faster than normal

5. (of the heart) to beat faster than normal

See also races [Old Norse rās running]

racer n
racing adjn

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race ²

Noun

1. a group of people of common ancestry with distinguishing physical features, such as skin colour or build

2. the human race human beings collectively

3. a group of animals or plants having common characteristics that distinguish them from other members of the same species [Italian razza]

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race  (rs)

1.

a. An interbreeding, usually geographically isolated population of organisms differing from other populations of the same species in the frequency of hereditary traits. A race that has been given formal taxonomic recognition is known as a subspecies.

b. A breed or strain, as of domestic animals.

2. Any of several extensive human populations associated with broadly defined regions of the world and distinguished from one another on the basis of inheritable physical characteristics, traditionally conceived as including such traits as pigmentation, hair texture, and facial features. Because the number of genes responsible for such physical variations is tiny in comparison to the size of the human genome and because genetic variation among members of a traditionally recognized racial group is generally as great as between two such groups, most scientists now consider race to be primarily a social rather than a scientific concept.

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Race

See also anthropology; discrimination; heredity.

albocracy

rule by Caucasians, especially Europeans.

anthroposociology

the sociological study of race using anthropological methods. — anthroposociological, adj.

apartheid

the policy of strict racial segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-whites practiced in the Republic of South Africa.

Aryanism

1. a doctrine propagandized by Nazism asserting that the so-called Aryan peoples were superior to all others in the practice of government and the development of civilization.
2. a belief in this doctrine and acceptance of its social and ethical implications, especially with regard to the treatment of so-called inferior races. — Aryanist, n.

bigotry

obtuse or narrow-minded intolerance, especially of other races or religions. — bigot, n., — bigoted, adj.

biracialism

the principle or practice of combining or representing two separate races, as white and Negro, on governing boards, committees, etc. — biracialist, biracial, adj.

cacogenics

Biology. the study of the operation of factors that cause degeneration in offspring, especially as applied to factors unique to separate races. Also called dysgenics. — cacogenic, adj.

creolism

the state of being a creole.

endemism

the quality of belonging to a particular race, region, or country. — endemicity, n.

ethnocracy

a government controlled by a particular race or national group. — ethnocratic, adj.

ethnogeography

the study of the geographical distribution of racial groups and the relationship between them and their environments. — ethnogeographer, n. — ethnogeographic, adj.

ethnopsychology

the psychology of races and peoples. — ethnopsychological, adj.

eugenism

the blend of factors and influences most suitable for the improvement of the inherited characteristics of a breed or race, especially the human race. — eugenic, adj.

euthenics

the art or science of improving a race or breed, especially the human race, by control of external influences, as environment. See also improvement.

genocide

1. the deliberate and systematic extermination of a racial or national group.
2. an actor in this process. — genocidal, adj.

gentilism

the state or quality of being non-Jewish, and especially a heathen or pagan.

Gobinism

the theory or doctrine that the white race in general and the Germanic race in particular are superior to all other peoples.

integrationism

the combination of educational and other public facilities, previously segregated by race, into unified systems shared by all races. — integrationist, n. , adj.

interracialism

the principles, beliefs, and attitudes influencing actions aimed at improving relations among differing races. — interracial, adj.

Jensenism

the belief that blacks are mentally inferior to whites, based on results of intelligence tests that failed to account for such differences as test questions slanted in favor of whites, lack of cultural and educational oppor-tunities among blacks, etc. — Jensenist, n., adj.

Melanochroism

the condition of belonging to the Caucasian race and having dark hair and a light complexion. — Melanochroic, adj. — Melanochroid, adj., n.

miscegenation

1. the interbreeding of members of different races.
2. cohabitation or marriage between a man and woman of different races, especially, in the U.S., between a Negro and a white person.
3. the mixing or mixture of races by interbreeding.

monogenesis

monogenism. See also organisms.

monogenism

the belief that all human races descended from a common ancestral type. Also monogenesis, monogeny. — monogenist, n. — monogenistic, adj.

nigritude

the condition of being black; blackness.

polygenism

the theory that all human races descended from two or more ancestral types. — polygenist, n. — polygenistic, adj.

racialism

the belief in or practice of the doctrine of racism. — racialist, n. — racialistic, adj.

racism

a belief that human races have distinctive characteristics that determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one’s race is superior and has the right to control others. — racist, adj.

segregationism

the views and policies of those who would separate or maintain as separate rights, public facilities, etc., on the basis of race. See also apartheid.

supremacist

a person who advocates supremacy of a particular group, especially a racial group.

Xanthochroism

the condition of belonging to the Caucasian race and having fair skin and blond hair. — Xanthochroi, Xanthocroid, n. — Xanthochroic, Xanthocroid, adj.

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Race a breed or class of individuals similar in appearance; a company; a row or series.

Examples: race of beasts, 1819; of birds; of youthful and unhandled colts, 1596; of cows, 1822; of coxcombs, 1712; of demi-gods, 1697; of doctors; of fishes, 1819; of grasses, 1802; of heavens (angels), 1667; of horses, 1781; of learned men, 1748; of plants, 1712; of poets, 1875; of serpents, 1774; of sheep, 1745; of stud of mares, 1547; of trains (a couple or set, or trains coupled together).

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	race - any competition; "the race for the presidency" contest, competition - an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants arms race - a competition between nations to have the most powerful armaments campaign, political campaign, run - a race between candidates for elective office; "I managed his campaign for governor"; "he is raising money for a Senate run"
	2.	race - a contest of speed; "the race is to the swift" contest, competition - an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants auto race, automobile race, car race - a race between (usually high-performance) automobiles bicycle race - a race between people riding bicycles boat race - a race between people rowing or driving boats burnup - a high-speed motorcycle race on a public road chariot race - a race between ancient chariots dog racing - a race between dogs; usually an occasion for betting on the outcome foot race, footrace, run - a race run on foot; "she broke the record for the half-mile run" freestyle - a race (as in swimming) in which each contestant has a free choice of the style to use cross country - a long race run over open country heat - a preliminary race in which the winner advances to a more important race horse race - a contest of speed between horses; usually held for the purpose of betting potato race - a novelty race in which competitors move potatoes from one place to another one at a time sack race - a novelty race in which competitors jump ahead with their feet confined in a sack scratch race - a race in which all contestants start from scratch (on equal terms) ski race, skiing race - a race between people wearing skis relay race, relay - a race between teams; each member runs or swims part of the distance repechage - a race (especially in rowing) in which runners-up in the eliminating heats compete for a place in the final race
	3.	race - people who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock; "some biologists doubt that there are important genetic differences between races of human beings" group, grouping - any number of entities (members) considered as a unit people of color, people of colour, colour, color - a race with skin pigmentation different from the white race (especially Blacks) Herrenvolk, master race - a race that considers itself superior to all others and fitted to rule the others Black race, Negro race, Negroid race - a dark-skinned race Caucasian race, Caucasoid race, White people, White race - a light-skinned race Mongolian race, Mongoloid race, Yellow race - an Asian race Amerindian race, Indian race - usually included in the Mongoloid race Indian race - sometimes included in the Caucasian race; native to the subcontinent of India Slavic people, Slavic race - a race of people speaking a Slavonic language
	4.	race - (biology) a taxonomic group that is a division of a species; usually arises as a consequence of geographical isolation within a species subspecies biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms taxon, taxonomic category, taxonomic group - animal or plant group having natural relations
	5.	race - the flow of air that is driven backwards by an aircraft propeller backwash, slipstream, airstream, wash flow - any uninterrupted stream or discharge
	6.	race - a canal for a current of water raceway canal - long and narrow strip of water made for boats or for irrigation
Verb	1.	race - move fast; "He rushed down the hall to receive his guests"; "The cars raced down the street" belt along, bucket along, cannonball along, hie, hotfoot, pelt along, rush, rush along, speed, step on it, hasten go, locomote, move, travel - change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically; "How fast does your new car go?"; "We travelled from Rome to Naples by bus"; "The policemen went from door to door looking for the suspect"; "The soldiers moved towards the city in an attempt to take it before night fell"; "news travelled fast" barge, push forward, thrust ahead - push one's way; "she barged into the meeting room" shoot down, tear, buck, charge, shoot - move quickly and violently; "The car tore down the street"; "He came charging into my office" dash, scoot, scud, dart, flash, shoot - run or move very quickly or hastily; "She dashed into the yard"
	2.	race - compete in a race; "he is running the Marathon this year"; "let's race and see who gets there first" run compete, vie, contend - compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others show - finish third or better in a horse or dog race; "he bet $2 on number six to show" place - finish second or better in a horse or dog race; "he bet $2 on number six to place" boat-race - participate in a boat race horse-race - compete in a horse race campaign, run - run, stand, or compete for an office or a position; "Who's running for treasurer this year?" speed skate - race on skates
	3.	race - to work as fast as possible towards a goal, sometimes in competition with others; "We are racing to find a cure for AIDS" act, move - perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"
	4.	race - cause to move fast or to rush or race; "The psychologist raced the rats through a long maze" rush move, displace - cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense; "Move those boxes into the corner, please"; "I'm moving my money to another bank"; "The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant"

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race ¹

noun 1. competition, contest, chase, dash, pursuit, contention

noun 2. contest, competition, rivalry, contention

verb 3. compete against, run against

verb 4. compete, run, contend, take part in a race

verb 5. run, fly, career, speed, tear, dash, hurry, barrel (along) (informal), chiefly U.S., Canad. dart, gallop, zoom, hare Brit. (informal) hasten, burn rubber (informal) go like a bomb Brit., N.Z. (informal) run like mad (informal)

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race ²

noun people, ethnic group, nation, blood, house, family, line, issue, stock, type, seed (chiefly biblical) breed, folk, tribe, offspring, clan, kin, lineage, progeny, kindred

Translations

race [reɪs] n → carrera (= species); raza

vt [+ horse] → hacer correr [+ person]; competir contra [+ engine]; acelerar

vi (= compete) → competir (= run); correr; [pulse] → latir a ritmo acelerado;

the arms race → la carrera armamentista;

the human race → el género humano;

he raced across the road → cruzó corriendo la carretera;

to race in/out → entrar/salir corriendo

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race [reɪs] n (= species) → race f (= competition, rush); course f

vt [+ person] → faire la course avec [+ horse]; faire courir [+ engine]; emballer

vi (= compete) → faire la course, courir (= hurry); aller à toute vitesse, courir; [engine] → s'emballer; [pulse] → battre très vite;

the human race → la race humaine;

to race in/out etc → entrer/sortir etc à toute vitesse

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race [reɪs] n (species) → Rasse f;

(competition) → Rennen nt;

(for power, control) → Wettlauf m

vt (horse, pigeon) → an Wettbewerben teilnehmen lassen;

(car etc) → ins Rennen schicken;

(person) → um die Wette laufen mit

vi (compete) → antreten;

(hurry) → rennen;

(pulse, heart) → rasen;

(engine) → durchdrehen;

the human race → die Menschheit;

a race against time → ein Wettlauf mit der Zeit;

he raced across the road → er raste über die Straße;

to race in/out → hinein-/hinausstürzen

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race [reɪs] n → razza (= competition, rush); corsa

vt [+ person] → gareggiare (in corsa) con [+ horse]; far correre [+ engine]; imballare

vi → correre;

the human race → la razza umana;

he raced across the road → ha attraversato la strada di corsa;

to race in/out etc → precipitarsi dentro/fuori etc