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Definition of run down phrasal verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

run down

phrasal verb
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run down
  1. to lose power or stop working
    • The battery has run down.
  2. to gradually stop functioning or become smaller in size or number
    • British manufacturing industry has been running down for years.
    related noun rundown
run something down
  1. to make something lose power or stop working
    • If you leave your headlights on you'll soon run down the battery.
  2. to make something gradually stop functioning or become smaller in size or number
    • The company is running down its sales force.
    related noun rundown
run somebody/something down
  1. (of a vehicle or its driver) to hit somebody/something and knock them/it to the ground
  2. to criticize somebody/something in an unkind way
    • He's always running her down in front of other people.
  3. to find somebody/something after a search
See run down in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
convey
verb
 
 
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