Runes are letters from an alphabet that was used by people in Northern Europe in former times. They were carved on wood or stone and were believed to have magical powers.
rune in British English
(ruːn)
noun
1.
any of the characters of an ancient Germanic alphabet, derived from the Roman alphabet, in use, esp in Scandinavia, from the 3rd century ad to the end of the Middle Ages. Each character was believed to have a magical significance
2.
any obscure piece of writing using mysterious symbols
3.
a kind of Finnish poem or a stanza in such a poem
Derived forms
runic (ˈrunic)
adjective
Word origin
Old English rūn, from Old Norse rūn secret; related to Old Saxon, Old High German, Gothic runa
rune in American English
(run)
noun
1.
any of the characters of an alphabet (futhark) probably derived from a Greek script and used by the Scandinavians and other early Germanic peoples from about a.d. 300
2. [often pl.]
something inscribed or written in such characters
3.
a.
a Finnish or Old Norse poem or canto
b. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
any poem, verse, or song, esp. one that is mystical or obscure
Word origin
ME roun < OE run, secret, mystery, runic character; readopted in the 17th c. in form of ON rūn: both < IE echoic base *reu-, hoarse sound, roar, grumble > Welsh rhin, secret, L raucus, hoarse; in sense rune (sense 3) rune (sense 3a) < Finn runo, poem, canto < ON rūn
Examples of 'rune' in a sentence
rune
I would like to hear if the runes on the dice are similar to the runes on your rune chips.
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2002)
Do you recall a Mountain game played with cards and rune chips?
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2002)
Then he went into the bathroom and scrubbed furiously at the rune on his arm, until it was almost obliterated.
Amanda Hemingway THE GREENSTONE GRAIL: THE SANGREAL TRILOGY ONE (2002)
A Canadian museum was suing a man who had sold a rune stone, which later proved to be a hoax.
Dixon, Franklin W. THE VIKING SYMBOL MYSTERY (2002)