home-run
UK[ˈhəʊm rʌn]US[ˈhoʊm rʌn]
n
A hit in baseball that allows the batter to run around all the bases and score a run.
n
An impressive and unqualified success.
Morpheme Breakdown
home
run
home
dwelling, house, estate, village.
run
to move swiftly on foot.
Etymology
The term "home-run" is a transparent compound from the sport of baseball, originating in the mid-19th century. It directly combines the word "home," referring to home plate as the ultimate objective, with "run," describing the batter's action of circling the bases. The logic is literal: a hit that allows the batter to run all the way home. This sporting sense was later extended metaphorically into general English to denote any singular and complete success, capitalizing on the imagery of achieving a clear and definitive goal.
Analysis
Structure: home + run
home: Old English, meaning "dwelling, house, estate, village." In this compound, it signifies the final destination or goal (home plate).
run: Old English, meaning "to move swiftly on foot." In this compound, it signifies the act of running the bases.
Examples
The rookie hit a dramatic home-run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game.
Her latest product launch was a real home-run with both critics and consumers.
He needed a financial home-run to get out of debt, and the risky investment paid off.