runoff
UK[ˈrʌnɒf]US[ˈrʌnˌɔːf]
n
An additional election or contest held to decide a winner when the first one has not given a clear result.
n
Water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the ground into streams, rivers, etc.
Morpheme Breakdown
run
off
run
off
Etymology
The word "runoff" is a transparent compound formed within English from the native verbs "run" and "off." Its core logic is the concept of something "running off" or flowing away. This literal sense is perfectly preserved in its hydrological meaning, referring to water that flows off the land. The electoral sense is a metaphorical extension from the early 20th century, where a primary contest is seen as the main flow, and a subsequent, deciding contest is the flow that happens afterward, carrying the final result away from the initial indecision.
Analysis
Structure: run + off
- run: From Old English rinnan, iernan (to flow, to run). In this compound, it carries the sense of flowing or moving.
- off: From Old English of (away, from). In this compound, it indicates movement away or a separation.
Examples
The heavy rain caused significant surface runoff, leading to localized flooding.
The mayoral race was so close that it will be decided by a runoff election next month.
Agricultural runoff containing fertilizers can pollute nearby waterways.