Race n. 1.A progress; a course; a movement or progression.
2.Esp., swift progress; rapid course; a running. "The flight of many birds is swifter than the race of any beasts."
3.Hence: The act or process of running in competition; a contest of speed in any way, as in running, riding, driving, skating, rowing, sailing; in the plural, usually, a meeting for contests in the running of horses; as, he attended the races. "The race is not to the swift." "I wield the gauntlet, and I run the race."
4.Competitive action of any kind, especially when prolonged; hence, career; course of life. "My race of glory run, and race of shame."
5.A strong or rapid current of water, or the channel or passage for such a current; a powerful current or heavy sea, sometimes produced by the meeting of two tides; as, the Portland Race; the Race of Alderney.
6.The current of water that turns a water wheel, or the channel in which it flows; a mill race. Note: The part of the channel above the wheel is sometimes called the headrace, the part below, the tailrace.
7.(Mach.) A channel or guide along which a shuttle is driven back and forth, as in a loom, sewing machine, etc.
Race cloth, a cloth worn by horses in racing, having pockets to hold the weights prescribed.
Race course. (a)The path, generally circular or elliptical, over which a race is run.
(b)Same as Race way, below.
Race cup, a cup given as a prize to the victor in a race.
Race glass, a kind of field glass.
Race horse. (a)A horse that runs in competition; specifically, a horse bred or kept for running races.
(b)A breed of horses remarkable for swiftness in running.
(c)(Zool.) The steamer duck.
Race knife, a cutting tool with a blade that is hooked at the point, for marking outlines, on boards or metals, as by a pattern, used in shipbuilding.
Race saddle, a light saddle used in racing.
Race track. Same as Race course (a), above.
Race way, the canal for the current that drives a water wheel.
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