gallop

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gal·lop / ˈgaləp/ • n. [in sing.] the fastest pace of a horse or other quadruped, with all the feet off the ground together in each stride: the horse broke into a furious gallop | riding at full gallop. ∎  a ride on a horse at this pace: Will went for a gallop on the beach. ∎  a very fast pace of running or moving.• v. (gal·loped, gal·lop·ing) [intr.] (of a horse) go at the pace of a gallop. ∎  [tr.] make (a horse) gallop: Fred galloped the horse off to the start. ∎  (of a person) run fast and rather boisterously. ∎ fig. (of a process or time) progress rapidly in a seemingly uncontrollable manner: panic about the deadline galloping toward them | [as adj.] (galloping) galloping inflation. DERIVATIVES: gal·lop·er n.

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