"runabout" meaning in English

See runabout in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

Forms: runabouts [plural]
Etymology: Deverbal from run about. Etymology templates: {{ety|en|:deverbal|run about|text=+|tree=1}} [Appendix:Glossary#deverbal|Deverbal]] from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "run about", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "en" } ], "keyword" : "deverbal" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "runabout", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" }" data-lang="en" data-title="runabout"> Deverbal from run about. Head templates: {{en-noun}} runabout (plural runabouts)
  1. Any of several small vehicles, especially a small motor car for use on short journeys.
    Sense id: en-runabout-en-noun-OF7yUtQI Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with 3 entries, Pages with entries, Carriages Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 27 10 17 25 21 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 24 6 19 25 25 Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 21 6 21 27 24 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 25 4 20 27 25 Disambiguation of Carriages: 17 23 17 26 17
  2. (dated) A motor car having a single row of seats. Tags: dated
    Sense id: en-runabout-en-noun-XJtetkfe Categories (other): Carriages Disambiguation of Carriages: 17 23 17 26 17
  3. (historical) A light, open, American horse-drawn vehicle with four large wheels. Tags: historical
    Sense id: en-runabout-en-noun-lnF2TdYb Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with 3 entries, Pages with entries, Carriages Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 27 10 17 25 21 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 24 6 19 25 25 Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 21 6 21 27 24 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 25 4 20 27 25 Disambiguation of Carriages: 17 23 17 26 17
  4. (archaic) A gadabout or vagabond. Tags: archaic
    Sense id: en-runabout-en-noun-RkmLQo5b Categories (other): English deverbals, English entries with incorrect language header, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with 3 entries, Pages with entries, Carriages Disambiguation of English deverbals: 20 16 13 37 14 Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 27 10 17 25 21 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 24 6 19 25 25 Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 21 6 21 27 24 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 25 4 20 27 25 Disambiguation of Carriages: 17 23 17 26 17
  5. (science fiction) A small, relatively maneuverable spacecraft or shuttlecraft.
    Sense id: en-runabout-en-noun-7RiTDTY3 Categories (other): Science fiction, English entries referencing missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymon, English entries with incorrect language header, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with 3 entries, Pages with entries, Pages with etymon, Carriages Disambiguation of English entries referencing missing etymons: 21 17 14 18 31 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 20 18 13 19 30 Disambiguation of English entries with etymon: 21 18 14 18 29 Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 27 10 17 25 21 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 24 6 19 25 25 Disambiguation of Pages with 3 entries: 21 6 21 27 24 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 25 4 20 27 25 Disambiguation of Pages with etymon: 18 5 19 23 36 Disambiguation of Carriages: 17 23 17 26 17 Topics: literature, media, publishing, science-fiction
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: run-around, runaround, tourabout

Inflected forms

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":deverbal",
        "3": "run about",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#deverbal|Deverbal]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"run about\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"deverbal\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"runabout\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"runabout\">\nDeverbal from run about.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Deverbal from run about.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "runabouts",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "runabout (plural runabouts)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "run-around"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "runaround"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "tourabout"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "27 10 17 25 21",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "24 6 19 25 25",
          "kind": "other",
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          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
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        {
          "_dis": "21 6 21 27 24",
          "kind": "other",
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          "_dis": "25 4 20 27 25",
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        {
          "_dis": "17 23 17 26 17",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Carriages",
          "orig": "en:Carriages",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              68,
              76
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1913, Robert Barr, chapter 2, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:",
          "text": "The door being open, Stranleigh walked in unannounced. A two-seated runabout[…]stood by the window, where it could be viewed by passers-by. Further down the room rested a chassis, […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of several small vehicles, especially a small motor car for use on short journeys."
      ],
      "id": "en-runabout-en-noun-OF7yUtQI",
      "links": [
        [
          "vehicle",
          "vehicle"
        ],
        [
          "motor car",
          "motor car"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "17 23 17 26 17",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Carriages",
          "orig": "en:Carriages",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A motor car having a single row of seats."
      ],
      "id": "en-runabout-en-noun-XJtetkfe",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(dated) A motor car having a single row of seats."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "dated"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "27 10 17 25 21",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
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        {
          "_dis": "24 6 19 25 25",
          "kind": "other",
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        {
          "_dis": "21 6 21 27 24",
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          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "25 4 20 27 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "17 23 17 26 17",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Carriages",
          "orig": "en:Carriages",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A light, open, American horse-drawn vehicle with four large wheels."
      ],
      "id": "en-runabout-en-noun-lnF2TdYb",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(historical) A light, open, American horse-drawn vehicle with four large wheels."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "historical"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "20 16 13 37 14",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English deverbals",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "27 10 17 25 21",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
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          "_dis": "24 6 19 25 25",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
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          "_dis": "21 6 21 27 24",
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          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "25 4 20 27 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "17 23 17 26 17",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Carriages",
          "orig": "en:Carriages",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A gadabout or vagabond."
      ],
      "id": "en-runabout-en-noun-RkmLQo5b",
      "links": [
        [
          "gadabout",
          "gadabout"
        ],
        [
          "vagabond",
          "vagabond"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(archaic) A gadabout or vagabond."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Science fiction",
          "orig": "en:Science fiction",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "21 17 14 18 31",
          "kind": "other",
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          "parents": [],
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          "parents": [],
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        {
          "_dis": "21 6 21 27 24",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 3 entries",
          "parents": [],
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          "_dis": "25 4 20 27 25",
          "kind": "other",
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          "_dis": "18 5 19 23 36",
          "kind": "other",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "17 23 17 26 17",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Carriages",
          "orig": "en:Carriages",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A small, relatively maneuverable spacecraft or shuttlecraft."
      ],
      "id": "en-runabout-en-noun-7RiTDTY3",
      "links": [
        [
          "science fiction",
          "science fiction"
        ],
        [
          "maneuverable",
          "maneuverable"
        ],
        [
          "spacecraft",
          "spacecraft"
        ],
        [
          "shuttlecraft",
          "shuttlecraft"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(science fiction) A small, relatively maneuverable spacecraft or shuttlecraft."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "literature",
        "media",
        "publishing",
        "science-fiction"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "runabout"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English countable nouns",
    "English deverbals",
    "English entries referencing missing etymons",
    "English entries with etymology texts",
    "English entries with etymon",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 3 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymon",
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  "etymology_templates": [
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      "args": {
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        "2": ":deverbal",
        "3": "run about",
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      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#deverbal|Deverbal]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"run about\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"deverbal\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"runabout\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"runabout\">\nDeverbal from run about.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Deverbal from run about.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "runabouts",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "runabout (plural runabouts)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "run-around"
    },
    {
      "word": "runaround"
    },
    {
      "word": "tourabout"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              68,
              76
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1913, Robert Barr, chapter 2, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:",
          "text": "The door being open, Stranleigh walked in unannounced. A two-seated runabout[…]stood by the window, where it could be viewed by passers-by. Further down the room rested a chassis, […]",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of several small vehicles, especially a small motor car for use on short journeys."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "vehicle",
          "vehicle"
        ],
        [
          "motor car",
          "motor car"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English dated terms"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A motor car having a single row of seats."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(dated) A motor car having a single row of seats."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "dated"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with historical senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A light, open, American horse-drawn vehicle with four large wheels."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(historical) A light, open, American horse-drawn vehicle with four large wheels."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "historical"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with archaic senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A gadabout or vagabond."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "gadabout",
          "gadabout"
        ],
        [
          "vagabond",
          "vagabond"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(archaic) A gadabout or vagabond."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Science fiction"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A small, relatively maneuverable spacecraft or shuttlecraft."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "science fiction",
          "science fiction"
        ],
        [
          "maneuverable",
          "maneuverable"
        ],
        [
          "spacecraft",
          "spacecraft"
        ],
        [
          "shuttlecraft",
          "shuttlecraft"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(science fiction) A small, relatively maneuverable spacecraft or shuttlecraft."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "literature",
        "media",
        "publishing",
        "science-fiction"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "runabout"
}

Download raw JSONL data for runabout meaning in English (2.9kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-09-16 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-09-02 using wiktextract (d6fca27 and 65e1673). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.