race
UK[reɪs]US[reɪs]
n
A competition between people, animals, or vehicles to see which is the fastest.
n
One of the main groups that humans can be divided into according to their physical characteristics, such as skin color.
v
To compete in a race.
v
To move or go very fast.
Etymology
The modern English word 'race' carries two primary meanings that stem from distinct but intertwined historical paths. Its original sense, denoting a contest of speed, comes directly from Old Norse 'rás', which meant a running or a course. This Norse term shares a common Proto-Germanic ancestor with the Old English 'rǣs', referring to a rush or an attack. The development of the meaning related to a distinct human group is more complex and later, emerging in the 16th century, possibly influenced by the Italian 'razza', which itself has an uncertain origin. The semantic connection may lie in the idea of a "lineage" or "breed" (as in a line of descent), metaphorically extending from the concept of a course or a run through generations.
Analysis
The word 'race' is a simplex word. Its core form is a direct loan from Old Norse 'rás', meaning "a running, a race, a rush of water." This Old Norse term is related to the Old English 'rǣs', meaning "a rush, a running," and both are traced back to a Proto-Germanic root rēs-.
Examples
She won the 100-meter race in record time.
The company is in a race to develop the new technology before its competitors.
He raced down the stairs to answer the phone.