rush

rush¹ / rəsh/ • v. 1. [intr.] move with urgent haste: Jason rushed after her I rushed outside and hailed a taxi. ∎  (of air or a liquid) flow strongly: the water rushed in through the great oaken gates. ∎  [intr.] act with great haste: as soon as the campaign started, they rushed into action | shoppers rushed to buy computers. ∎  [tr.] force (someone) to act hastily: I don't want to rush you into something. ∎  [tr.] take (someone) somewhere with great haste: an ambulance was waiting to rush him to the hospital. ∎  deliver (something) quickly to (someone): we'll rush you a copy at once. ∎  (rush something out) produce and distribute something, or put something up for sale, very quickly: a rewritten textbook was rushed out last autumn. ∎  [tr.] deal with (something) hurriedly: panic measures were rushed through Congress | [as adj.] (rushed) a rushed job. ∎  [tr.] dash toward (someone or something) in an attempt to attack or capture them or it: he rushed the stronghold. 2. [tr.] Football advance rapidly toward (an offensive player, esp. the quarterback). ∎  [intr.] gain a specified amount of yardage or score a touchdown or conversion by running from scrimmage with the ball: he rushed for 100 yards on 22 carries. 3. [tr.] entertain (a new student) in order to assess their suitability for membership in a college fraternity or sorority. ∎  (of a student) visit (a college fraternity or sorority) with a view toward joining it: he rushed three fraternities. • n. 1. a sudden quick movement toward something, typically by a number of people: there was a rush for the door. ∎  a flurry of hasty activity: the pre-Christmas rush | [as adj.] a rush job. ∎  a sudden strong demand for a commodity: there's been a rush on the Tribune because of the murder. ∎  a sudden flow or flood: she felt a rush of cold air. ∎  a sudden intense feeling: Mark felt a rush of anger. ∎  a sudden thrill or feeling of euphoria such as experienced after taking certain drugs: users experience a rush. 2. Football a rapid advance by a defensive player or players, esp. toward the quarterback. ∎  an act of running from scrimmage with the ball to gain yardage. 3. the process whereby college fraternities or sororities entertain new students in order to assess suitability for membership: ranking pledges during rush | [as adj.] rush week. 4. (rushes) the first prints made of a movie after a period of shooting. DERIVATIVES: rush·er n. rush·ing·ly adv. rush² • n. 1. a marsh or waterside plant (genus Juncus, family Juncaceae) with slender stemlike pith-filled leaves, widely distributed in temperate areas. Some kinds are used for matting, chair seats, and baskets, and some were formerly used for strewing on floors. ∎  used in names of similar plants of wet habitats, e.g., flowering rush. ∎  a stem of such a plant. ∎  such plants used as a material. 2. archaic a thing of no value (used for emphasis): not one of them is worth a rush. DERIVATIVES: rush·like / -ˌlīk/ adj. rush·y adj.