runoff
gb/ɹˈʌnˌɔf/ us/ɹˈʌnˌɔf/
B2
English
felszíni lefolyás, második forduló, rájátszás, pótfutam, állomány leépülése, kifutás
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[adjective] runoff; runoff from [place/source]; runoff into [waterway]
Heavy rain sent polluted runoff into the bay.
A heves esőzés miatt szennyezett felszíni lefolyás jutott az öbölbe.
The new parking lot increased runoff after storms.
Az új parkoló a viharok után növelte a felszíni lefolyást.
Farm runoff can carry fertilizer into nearby rivers.
Learner examples
Rain runoff flowed down the street.
Az eső okozta felszíni lefolyás végigfolyt az utcán.
Plants help reduce runoff.
A növények segítenek csökkenteni a felszíni lefolyást.
Common mistake:
Runoff is a noun. Use the two-word verb run off for the action: Rainwater runs off the road.
Meaning
surface water drainage
Collocations
stormwater runoff
|surface runoff
|urban runoff
|agricultural runoff
|rainfall runoff
|snowmelt runoff
|contaminated runoff
|runoff pollution
|runoff from farms
|reduce runoff
Synonyms
drainage (more general; can mean the movement of water or the system that carries it away)
|
surface flow (more technical and emphasizes water moving over a surface)
|
overflow (usually means liquid that exceeds a container, channel, or limit)
Antonyms
infiltration (water soaking down into soil rather than flowing over the surface)
|
absorption (water being taken into a material instead of flowing away)
Themes
environment
|weather
|water
|agriculture
|engineering
Definition
rainwater or melted snow that flows away over the surface instead of going into the soil
Water or other liquid that flows over land, roads, or roofs into drains, rivers, or the sea instead of soaking into the ground.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a runoff between [candidate] and [candidate]; go to a runoff; advance to the runoff
Neither candidate won a majority, so the race will go to a runoff.
Egyik jelölt sem szerzett többséget, ezért második fordulót tartanak.
She advanced to the runoff against the incumbent mayor.
Bejutott a második fordulóba, ahol a hivatalban lévő polgármesterrel száll szembe.
The runoff is scheduled for next month.
Learner examples
No one won, so there will be a runoff.
Senki sem nyert, ezért lesz második forduló.
Two candidates are in the runoff.
Két jelölt van a második fordulóban.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse a runoff with running for office; a runoff happens after an earlier vote has no clear winner.
Meaning
deciding election round
Collocations
election runoff
|presidential runoff
|Senate runoff
|mayoral runoff
|primary runoff
|runoff vote
|runoff round
|face a runoff
|force a runoff
|advance to a runoff
Synonyms
second round (clear, general phrase for the later vote)
|
runoff election (fuller form of the same idea)
|
second ballot (more formal or system-specific)
Antonyms
first round (the initial vote before any runoff)
|
outright win (a victory that avoids the need for a runoff)
Themes
politics
|elections
|government
Definition
an extra election held because no one won clearly the first time
A second election or voting round held when no candidate has received enough votes to be declared the winner.
NOUN
C1
3
Usage pattern:
a runoff for [place/prize]; a runoff between [competitors]
The two cyclists had identical times, so officials ordered a short runoff.
A két kerékpáros azonos időt ért el, ezért a bírók egy rövid pótfutamot rendeltek el.
A runoff was held to decide the last qualifying place.
Rájátszást tartottak az utolsó továbbjutó hely eldöntésére.
The judges called for a runoff between the two top teams.
Learner examples
They tied, so there was a runoff.
Döntetlen lett, ezért rájátszásra került sor.
Common mistake:
In many sports contexts, tiebreaker or playoff is more common than runoff.
Meaning
deciding contest after tie
Collocations
runoff race
|qualifying runoff
|final runoff
|runoff for first place
|runoff between the finalists
Synonyms
tiebreaker (more common when the problem is exactly a tie)
|
playoff (common in sports; may refer to a longer series or postseason competition)
|
decider (informal or journalistic term for a contest that settles the result)
Antonyms
tie (an unresolved equal result)
|
draw (a result with no winner)
Themes
sports
|competition
Definition
an extra contest used to choose a winner after a tie or unclear result
A race, match, or other contest held after an equal or inconclusive result to decide the winner or qualifier.
NOUN
C2
BUSINESS
4
kifutás
C1
Usage pattern:
[asset/portfolio/deposit] runoff; runoff in [assets/balances]; allow [holdings] to shrink through runoff
The central bank allowed its bond holdings to shrink through portfolio runoff.
A jegybank hagyta, hogy kötvényállománya a portfólió természetes leépülése révén csökkenjen.
Loan runoff accelerated as borrowers refinanced.
A hitelállomány leépülése felgyorsult, ahogy az adósok refinanszírozták hiteleiket.
The insurer manages old claims in a separate runoff unit.
Learner examples
The bank expected some loan runoff this year.
A bank idén a hitelállomány némi leépülésére számított.
Common mistake:
This business sense does not mean water; it refers to a balance or portfolio shrinking over time.
Meaning
gradual financial wind-down
Collocations
portfolio runoff
|balance-sheet runoff
|mortgage runoff
|loan runoff
|asset runoff
|deposit runoff
|insurance runoff
|runoff business
|natural runoff
|runoff rate
Synonyms
wind-down (often suggests a planned or controlled reduction)
|
drawdown (emphasizes the amount being reduced)
|
amortization (specific to loans or assets being paid down over time)
Antonyms
buildup (an increase in holdings or balances)
|
growth (a general increase rather than a decline)
|
origination (technical term for creating new loans or policies, opposite of letting old ones run off)
Themes
business
|finance
|banking
|insurance
Definition
a slow decrease in financial assets, loans, policies, or stock because they are paid off, expire, or are not replaced
A gradual reduction in a portfolio, book of business, inventory, or balance as assets mature, loans are repaid, policies expire, or items are not replaced.
Grammar
Dictionary form
runoff
IPA
GB/ɹˈʌnˌɔf/
US/ɹˈʌnˌɔf/
Syllables & stress
run - off (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (run)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: runoff
- Plural: runoff, runoffs
Expressions
agricultural runoff
1/ˌæɡɹɪkˈʌlt͡ʃɚəl ɹˈʌnˌɔf/
fixed phrase
farm water carrying pollutants
water from farms that can carry chemicals or soil into rivers and lakes
Examples
- Agricultural runoff is a major source of pollution in the lake.
- Buffer strips along streams can reduce agricultural runoff.
- After heavy storms, agricultural runoff washed fertilizer into the river.
Learner examples
- Agricultural runoff can harm fish.
instant-runoff voting
1/ˈɪnstənt ɹˈʌnˌɔf vˈoʊtɪŋ/
fixed phrase
ranked-choice voting system
a voting method where people rank candidates, so no separate later runoff election is needed
Examples
- The city adopted instant-runoff voting for mayoral elections.
- Under instant-runoff voting, voters rank their first, second, and third choices.
- Supporters say instant-runoff voting can prevent costly second elections.
Learner examples
- Instant-runoff voting lets voters rank candidates.
runoff pollution
1/ɹˈʌnˌɔf pəlˈuʃən/
fixed phrase
pollution carried by runoff
water pollution caused by dirty rainwater flowing into rivers, lakes, or the sea
Examples
- Rain gardens can help reduce runoff pollution.
- The campaign teaches residents how lawn chemicals contribute to runoff pollution.
- Runoff pollution after storms has closed several beaches.
Learner examples
- Runoff pollution can make water unsafe.
stormwater runoff
1/stˈɔɹmwˌeɪtɚ ɹˈʌnˌɔf/
fixed phrase
rainwater draining from surfaces
rainwater that flows off hard surfaces like roads and roofs
Examples
- The city built rain gardens to absorb stormwater runoff.
- Oil from roads can be carried into streams by stormwater runoff.
- New construction must include a plan for managing stormwater runoff.
Learner examples
- Stormwater runoff flowed into the drain.
urban runoff
1/ˈɚbən ɹˈʌnˌɔf/
fixed phrase
city surface water drainage
rainwater that flows through a city and may carry dirt or pollution
Examples
- Urban runoff can make beaches unsafe after heavy rain.
- Permeable pavement helps reduce urban runoff.
- The report links fish deaths to polluted urban runoff.
Learner examples
- Urban runoff flows from streets into rivers.