Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (2)
1. 
 a substantial increase over a relatively short period of time; 
- Example: "a runup in interest rates"- Example: "market runups are followed by corrections"[syn: runup, run-up]
2.  the approach run during which an athlete gathers speed; 
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
run-up
    n 1: a substantial increase over a relatively short period of
         time; "a runup in interest rates"; "market runups are
         followed by corrections" [syn: runup, run-up]
    2: the approach run during which an athlete gathers speed