Olympic Games - Definitions from Dictionary.com

4 results for: Olympic Games

2008 Olympic Games Get up-to-date info on athletes, download widgets & view schedules www.nbcolympics.com	Sponsored Links

The 2008 Olympics NYTimes.com brings you complete coverage of this summer's games www.nytimes.com

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Olympic Games

–noun

1.	Also called Olympian Games. the greatest of the games or festivals of ancient Greece, held every four years in the plain of Olympia in Elis, in honor of Zeus.

2.	a modern international sports competition, held once every four years.

[Origin: 1600–10

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Olympic Games

To learn more about Olympic Games visit Britannica.com

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Olympic Games
pl.n.

A group of modern international athletic contests held as separate winter and summer competitions every four years in a different city. In 1994 the winter games were moved ahead two years so that the winter and summer games would alternate every two years. Also called Olympics.
A Pan-Hellenic festival in ancient Greece consisting of athletic games and contests of choral poetry and dance, first celebrated in 776 B.C. and held periodically until A.D. 393 on the plain of Olympia in honor of the Olympian Zeus. Also called Olympian Games.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

olympic games
noun
1.	the modern revival of the ancient games held once every 4 years in a selected country
2.	the ancient Panhellenic celebration at Olympia in honor of Zeus; held every 4 years beginning in 776 BC [syn: Olympian Games]

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
Olympic Games

Games held in ancient times on the plain of Olympia in Greece every four years. It was a time for laying aside political and religious differences, as athletes from all the Greek cities and districts competed. The games included patriotic and religious rituals as well as athletic contests, and high honors were given to the winners. The Greeks counted their years by olympiads (periods of four years) and dated events from the first Olympics in 776 b.c.

Note: The Olympic Games deteriorated under Roman rule of Greece and were halted in the fourth century. They were revived in the late nineteenth century, with goals of peace and fellowship modeled on those of the ancient Olympics. The modern Olympics include many athletic events of the original games, such as the discus throw.

[Chapter:] World History to 1550

Browse Nearby Entries: