sports
English meaning: Sports
Definition
Any activity that uses physical exertion or skills competitively under a set of rules that is not based on aesthetics.
Example
“He plays several sports, including football and tennis.”
Another example: “The school holds a sports day every summer.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Plural of 'sport', commonly used for competitive physical activities collectively ('I love sports', US) — British English often uses 'sport' uncountably for the same idea. Frequently attributive: 'sports car', 'sports day', 'sports equipment'. Countable.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
A shortening of Middle English 'disport' meaning diversion or amusement, from Old French 'desporter' (to carry away), in use from the 15th century.
Related Words
- softball
- netball
- shooter
- badminton
- espn
- volleyball
- illustrated
- tennis
- lacrosse
- handball
Common Collocations
- play sports
- team sports
- extreme sports
- water sports
- sports car
- winter sports
Word Forms
sports (pl.); sport (sing.); sporting (adj.); sporty (adj.)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B