correr

Correr is a Spanish verb with several related meanings centered on movement, operation, and flow. The most common sense is physical movement: to move rapidly on foot, as in correr una carrera or correr rápido. It also denotes the functioning or operation of things, for example, la máquina corre sin problemas or el motor corre a plena potencia, meaning that something runs or operates smoothly.

The verb extends to more than physical movement. Correr can mean to run or manage activities, such as correr una empresa (to run or manage a company) or correr para un cargo (to run for a political office). It also appears in expressions involving risk, such as correr un riesgo, and in phrases about disseminating information, like correr la voz (to spread the word). Water and other liquids can flow or escape, as in el agua corre por la tubería.

In computing and technology, correr means to execute or run a program. Other uses include to run afoul of rules or to run a course or project. The exact sense is determined by context, and some meanings are more common in certain dialects.

Etymology and forms: Correr derives from Latin currere, with typical conjugation for an -er verb. In the present indicative, the forms are yo corro, tú corres, él/ella corre, nosotros corremos, vosotros corréis, ellos/ellas corren. Other tenses follow standard -er patterns, with occasional irregularities in the preterite (corrí, corriste, corrió, etc.).

See also: related terms include carrera (race), corriente (current), and currir in some regional usages.