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To become fretted or dimpled on the surface, as water when agitated or running over a rough bottom; to be covered with small waves or undulations, as a field of grain.

e union or tie; something not to be relied upon. -- Rope pump, a pump in which a rapidly running endless rope raises water by the momentum communicated to the water by its adhesion to the rope. -- Rope transmission (Mach.), a method of transmitting power, as between distant places, by means of endless ropes running o…

A smoothly running passage of short notes (as semiquavers, or sixteenths) uniformly grouped, sung upon one long syllable, as in Handel's oratorios.

formed in nearly an upright position, and each separately distinct; -- distinguished from running hand. -- Round robin. Etym: [Perhaps F. round round + ruban ribbon.] (a) A written petition, memorial, remonstrance, protest, etc., the signatures to which are made in a circle so as not to indicate who signed first. "No…

said of contraband or dutiable goods. heavy impositions . . . are a strong temptation of running goods. Swift.

A whitlow running around the finger nail, but not affecting the bone. [Colloq.]

The act of running away, esp. of a horse or teams; as, there was a runaway yesterday.

The act of running with the ball. Bunt rush (Football), a combined rush by main strength. -- Rush line (Football), the line composed of rushers.

A popular Italian dance in quick 3-4 or 6-8 time, running mostly in triplets, but with a hop step at the beginning of each measure. See Tarantella.

An instrument for measuring time by the running of sand. See Hourglass.

Flowing or running with blood.

Collecting or running in schools or shoals. Schooling species like the herring and menhaden. G. B. Goode.

piece of wood or stiff hide placed over shrouds and other rigging to prevent chafe by the running gear. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Room or space at sea for a vessel to maneuver, drive, or scud, without peril of running ashore or aground. Totten.

into the combustion chamber, and heated for ignition by a blast-lamp until the engine is running, when it is, ordinarily, kept red hot by the heat of combustion.

A dynamo running in series with another or others.

f Scripture. This our life exempt from public haunts Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in everything. Shak. His preaching much, but more his practice, wrought, A living sermon of the truths he taught. Dryden.

(Zoöl.), a fish (Cepola rubescens) with a long, thin, compressed body, and a band of red running lengthwise. -- Serpent star (Zoöl.), an ophiuran; a brittle star. -- Serpent's tongue (Paleon.), the fossil tooth of a shark; -- so called from its resemblance to a tongue with its root. -- Serpent withe (Bot.), a West…

A piece of timber running the whole length of a vessel inside the timberheads. D. Kemp. To lay on the shelf, to lay aside as unnecessary or useless; to dismiss; to discard.

An inclined railway running into the water with a cradelike car on which a vessel may be drawn out on land, as for repairs.