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rundown

[ ruhn-doun ]
/ ˈrʌnˌdaʊn /
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noun
a quick review or summary of main points of information, usually oral: This brief rundown of past events will bring you up to date.
Baseball. a play in which a base runner is caught between bases by two or more players of the opposing team who toss the ball back and forth in an effort to tag the runner out.
Commerce. runoff (def. 4).
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Origin of rundown

1905–10, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase run down

Other definitions for rundown (2 of 2)

run-down
[ ruhn-doun ]
/ ˈrʌnˈdaʊn /

adjective
fatigued; weary; exhausted.
in a state of poor health: He was in a run-down condition from months of overwork.
in neglected condition; fallen into disrepair: a run-down house.
(of a spring-operated device) not running because it is unwound.

OTHER WORDS FOR run-down

3 seedy, tacky, shabby, deteriorated.

Origin of run-down

First recorded in 1675–85; adj. use of verb phrase run down
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rundown in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rundown

run down

verb (mainly adverb)
adjective run-down
tired; exhausted
worn-out, shabby, or dilapidated
noun rundown
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with rundown

run down

1

Stop because of lack of power or force, as in The alarm clock finally ran down. [Mid-1700s]

2

Make or be tired, cause to decline or be declined in health or vigor, as in His long illness ran him down, leaving him with no energy, or After that huge assignment his strength ran down. [First half of 1800s]

3

Collide with and knock over, as in The speeding motorist ran down a pedestrian. [Second half of 1500s]

4

Chase and capture, as in Police detectives ran down the suspects. [Second half of 1600s]

5

Trace the source of, as in She ran down all the references at the library.

6

Disparage, as in Don't run him down, he's a talented actor. [Second half of 1600s] Also see put down, def. 4.

7

Also, run one's eyes over. Look over, review, as in Let's run down the membership list again and see if we can pick a delegate, or She ran her eyes over the crowd, looking for her husband.

8

In baseball, tag out a runner between bases, as in We might have won but in the last inning they ran down two of our runners.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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