Scans and dares to run (5)
I believe the answer is:
reads
'scans' is the definition.
('read' can be a synonym of 'scan')
'dares to run' is the wordplay.
'to run' indicates anagramming the letters.
'dares' anagrammed gives 'READS'.
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for reads that I've seen before include "Studies (at university)" , "Understands written language" , "Peruses" , "Scans" , "Looks at and undertsands the written word" .)