12 VERB If your heart races , it beats very quickly because you are excited or afraid. □ [V ] Her heart raced uncontrollably.
13 → see also racing
14 PHRASE You describe a situation as a race against time when you have to work very fast in order to do something before a particular time, or before another thing happens. □ An air force spokesman said the rescue operation was a race against time. SYNONYMS race NOUN 4
competition: He will be banned from international competition for four years.
contest: Few contests in the recent history of British boxing have been as thrilling.
quest: My quest for a better bank continues. VERB 8
dash: Antonia ran to meet them.
speed: Trains speed through the Channel Tunnel at 186mph.
fly: I flew downstairs.
tear: The door flew open and Miranda tore into the room.
race|course /re I skɔː r s/ (racecourses ) also race course N‑COUNT A racecourse is a track on which horses race. [BRIT ] in AM, use racetrack
race|go|er /re I sgoʊə r / (racegoers ) also race-goer N‑COUNT [usu pl] Racegoers are people who regularly go to watch horse races. [mainly BRIT ]
race|horse /re I shɔː r s/ (racehorses ) N‑COUNT A racehorse is a horse that is trained to run in races.
ra ce meet|ing (race meetings ) N‑COUNT A race meeting is an occasion when a series of horse races are held at the same place, often during a period of several days. [mainly BRIT ]
rac|er /re I sə r / (racers )
1 N‑COUNT A racer is a person or animal that takes part in races. □ He is a former champion powerboat racer.
2 N‑COUNT A racer is a vehicle such as a car or bicycle that is designed to be used in races and therefore travels fast.
ra ce re|la |tions N‑PLURAL Race relations are the ways in which people of different races living together in the same community behave towards one another.
ra ce riot (race riots ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Race riots are violent fights between people of different races living in the same community.
race|track /re I stræk/ (racetracks ) also race track
1 N‑COUNT A racetrack is a track on which horses race. [AM ] in BRIT, use racecourse 2 N‑COUNT A racetrack is a track for races, for example car or bicycle races.
ra|cial ◆◇◇ /re I ʃ ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Racial describes things relating to people's race. □ …the protection of national and racial minorities. □ …the elimination of racial discrimination. ● ra|cial|ly ADV [ADV -ed/adj] □ …a racially mixed area. SYNONYMS racial ADJ
ethnic: …a survey of Britain's ethnic minorities.
nationaclass="underline" …the national characteristics and history of the country.
ra|cial|ism /re I ʃəl I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Racialism means the same as racism . [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use racism ● ra|cial|ist ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ …racialist groups.
ra |cial pro |fil|ing N‑UNCOUNT Racial profiling is government or police activity that involves using people’s racial and cultural characteristics to identify people to investigate. □ …controversies involving racial profiling and corruption.
rac|ing ◆◇◇ /re I s I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Racing refers to races between animals, especially horses, or between vehicles. □ Mr Honda was himself a keen racing driver in his younger days. □ …horse racing.
rac|ism /re I s I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Racism is the belief that people of some races are inferior to others, and the behaviour which is the result of this belief. □ There is a feeling among some black people that the level of racism is declining.
rac|ist /re I s I st/ (racists ) ADJ If you describe people, things, or behaviour as racist , you mean that they are influenced by the belief that some people are inferior because they belong to a particular race. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ You have to acknowledge that we live in a racist society. ● N‑COUNT A racist is someone who is racist. □ He has a hard core of support among white racists.
rack /ræ k/ (racks , racking , racked ) The spelling wrack is also used, mainly for meanings 3 and 4 , and mainly in old-fashioned or American English. 1 N‑COUNT A rack is a frame or shelf, usually with bars or hooks, that is used for holding things or for hanging things on. □ My rucksack was too big for the luggage rack.
2 → see also roof rack , toast rack
3 VERB [usu passive] If someone is racked by something such as illness or anxiety, it causes them great suffering or pain. □ [be V -ed + by/with ] His already infirm body was racked by high fever. □ [V -ed] …a teenager racked with guilt and anxiety.
4 → see also racking
5 PHRASE If you rack your brains , you try very hard to think of something. □ She began to rack her brains to remember what had happened at the nursing home.
6 PHRASE If you say that someone is on the rack , you mean that they are suffering either physically or mentally. [JOURNALISM ] □ Only a year ago, he was on the rack with a heroin addiction that began when he was 13.
7 PHRASE If you say that a place is going to rack and ruin , you are emphasizing that it is slowly becoming less attractive or less pleasant because no-one is bothering to look after it. [EMPHASIS ]