athlete
Use Athlete in a sentence
noun
a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill.
Origin:
1520–30; < Latin āthlēta < Greek āthlētḗs, equivalent to āthlē- (variant stem of āthleîn to contend for a prize, derivative of âthlos a contest) + -tēs suffix of agency
1520–30; < Latin āthlēta < Greek āthlētḗs, equivalent to āthlē- (variant stem of āthleîn to contend for a prize, derivative of âthlos a contest) + -tēs suffix of agency
Related forms
non·ath·lete, noun
su·per·ath·lete, noun
Pronunciation note
Athlete, athletic, and athletics, normally pronounced [ath-leet] [ath-let-ik] and [ath-let-iks] are heard frequently with an epenthetic schwa, an intrusive unstressed vowel inserted between the first and second syllables: [ath-uh-leet] [ath-uh-let-ik] and [ath-uh-let-iks]. The pronunciations containing the extra syllable are usually considered nonstandard, in spite of their widespread use on radio and television. Pronunciations with similarly intrusive vowels are also heard, though with less currency, for other words, as [fil-uh
m] for film, [el-uhm] for elm, and [ahr-thuh-rahy-tis] for arthritis, rather than the standard [film] [elm] and [ahr-thrahy-tis].
Athlete, athletic, and athletics, normally pronounced
[ath-leet] [ath-let-ik] and [ath-let-iks] are heard frequently with an epenthetic schwa, an intrusive unstressed vowel inserted between the first and second syllables: [ath-uh-leet] [ath-uh-let-ik] and [ath-uh-let-iks]. The pronunciations containing the extra syllable are usually considered nonstandard, in spite of their widespread use on radio and television. Pronunciations with similarly intrusive vowels are also heard, though with less currency, for other words, as [fil-uhm] for film, [el-uhm] for elm, and [ahr-thuh-rahy-tis] for arthritis, rather than the standard [film] [elm] and [ahr-thrahy-tis].
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To athlete
00:10
Athlete
is always a great word to know.
So is gobo. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
athlete (ˈæθliːt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a person trained to compete in sports or exercises involving physical strength, speed, or endurance |
| 2. | a person who has a natural aptitude for physical activities |
| 3. | chiefly (Brit) a competitor in track and field events |
| [C18: from Latin via Greek athlētēs, from athlein to compete for a prize, from athlos a contest] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
athlete
1520s, from L. athleta, from Gk. athletes "contestant in the games," agent noun from athlein "to contest for a prize," rel. to athlos "a contest" and athlon "a prize," of unknown origin. Before 1750, always in L. form. In this sense, O.E. had plegmann. Athlete's foot first recorded 1928, for an ailment
that has been around much longer.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
In the seventies, the pro athlete started to truly become empowered, as television embraced sports as a viable revenue stream.
Patty frightened nobody, but she'd been a standout athlete in high school and college and possessed a jock sort of fearlessness.
Although he was an enthusiastic athlete, he lacked the natural gifts to distinguish himself in any sport.
The doubters ask whether this affable erstwhile athlete will show the steel needed to take difficult decisions.
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