English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

rune

roon

Rune (noun) means a letter from an ancient Germanic alphabet, or more loosely, any mysterious or magical symbol. Example: “Runes were carved into the stone marker over a thousand years ago.”

noun
1
A letter from an ancient Germanic alphabet, or more loosely, any mysterious or magical symbol.
"Runes were carved into the stone marker over a thousand years ago."
"In the fantasy game, each rune unlocks a different spell."

How to use rune

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old Germanic alphabet letter, often associated with magic or mystery in modern usage.

Common pairings
carve a rune ancient runes a rune stone

Word forms

runed past tense, runes singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “rune” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ were carved into the stone marker over a thousand years ago.

Etymology

From Old Norse rún, from Proto-Germanic *rūnō ("letter, secret, mystery"); related to German Rune.

Origin: Old Norse

runic letter

Rhymes for rune

See all rhymes for rune →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rune” mean?

The word “rune” means a letter from an ancient Germanic alphabet, or more loosely, any mysterious or magical symbol. In plain terms, an old Germanic alphabet letter, often associated with magic or mystery in modern usage.

How do you pronounce “rune”?

“Rune” is pronounced roon (/ɹuːn/ in IPA).

How do you use “rune” in a sentence?

Here is “rune” used in a sentence: “Runes were carved into the stone marker over a thousand years ago.”

What part of speech is “rune”?

“Rune” is a noun.

Where does the word “rune” come from?

The word “rune” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse rún, from Proto-Germanic *rūnō ("letter, secret, mystery"); related to German Rune.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial