Rundowns

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A summary or overview detailing the essential points or information related to a topic or situation
2. A systematic outline that presents crucial facts, often used in reports or discussions
3. An informative recap that highlights important elements, frequently summarizing the main aspects of a project or issue

Etymology: "Rundowns" is the plural of "rundown", a noun that grew out of the phrasal verb "run down". The noun is formed from the verb, which means that the phrase came first as an action, and the noun later took on the sense of a summary. In "run down" the sense is roughly to go over something quickly from start to finish, so a rundown is the result of that quick passage: a brief account that covers the main points without lingering on details. The plural form simply adds the regular "-s" to show that more than one such summary is meant, as when a news programme or a briefing packs several reports into one sitting. Speakers of English use the plural for a set of these overviews, each covering a different topic or situation.

Synonyms: summaries, recaps, overviews