What is race? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of race

racenoun
loài, chủng, giống, cuộc đua, đua
/reɪs/

Definition & pronunciation of <b>race</b>

Where does the word race come from?

late Old English, from Old Norse rás ‘current’. It was originally a northern English word with the sense ‘rapid forward movement’, which gave rise to the senses ‘contest of speed’ (early 16th century) and ‘channel, path’ (i.e. the space traversed). The verb dates from the late 15th century

Vocabulary summary race

type noun

meaning (biology) race

example Marathon race: Marathon

example arms (armaments) race: the arms race

example to run a race

meaning race, ethnicity

example to race along

example to race the engine without a load

meaning species

example a racing man: horse racing enthusiast

example the racing world

type noun

meaning root; ginger root

example Marathon race: Marathon

example arms (armaments) race: the arms race

example to run a race

meaning race

example to race along

example to race the engine without a load

Example of vocabulary racecompetition

a competition between people, animals, vehicles, etc. to see which one is the faster or fastest

a boat/horse race
a five-kilometre road race
Who won the race?
Shall we have a race to the end of the beach?
She ran a good race to finish second.

a situation in which a number of people, groups, organizations, etc. are competing, especially for political power or to achieve something first

Who will win the race for the White House?
The race is on (= has begun) to find a cure for the disease.
The 1960 election was a close race between Nixon and Kennedy.
She is in a tight race against her Republican opponent.
He has taken a lead in the presidential race.

Example of vocabulary racefor horses

a series of horse races that happen at one place on a particular day

to go to the races
We had a great day at the races.

Example of vocabulary racepeople

one of the main groups that humans can be divided into according to their physical differences, for example the colour of their skin; the fact of belonging to one of these groups

This custom is found in people of all races throughout the world.
legislation against discrimination on the grounds of race or gender
Race is a major issue in this election.
Britain has always been a country of many races and ethnicities.
Her poetry explores questions of race and identity.

a group of people who share the same language, history, culture, etc.

the Nordic races
He admired Canadians as a hardy and determined race.

Example of vocabulary raceanimals/plants

a breed or type of animal or plant

a race of cattle

Idioms of vocabulary race

have a dog in the fight

(informal)to be involved in a situation so that you will gain or lose according to the result

I really don't have a dog in this fight, so I can just enjoy the game.
The employees have a dog in the hunt, so their views should be listened to.

a one, two, three, etc. horse race

a competition or an election in which there are only one, two, etc. teams or candidates with a chance of winning

The women’s competition was a two horse race between last year’s winners Surrey and the previous champions Essex.

a race against time/the clock

a situation in which you have to do something or finish something very fast before it is too late

Getting food to the starving refugees is now a race against time.

race to the bottom

a situation in which companies and countries compete with each other to produce goods as cheaply as possible by paying low wages and giving workers poor conditions and few rights