Adjacent Words

Athlete definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ATHLE'TE, n. [See Athletic.] A contender for victory.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a person trained to compete in sports [syn: athlete, jock]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin athleta, from Greek athl?t?s, from athlein to contend for a prize, from athlon prize, contest Date: 15th century a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a skilled performer in physical exercises, esp. in track and field events. 2 a healthy person with natural athletic ability. Phrases and idioms: athlete's foot a fungal foot condition affecting esp. the skin between the toes. Etymology: L athleta f. Gk athletes f. athleo contend for a prize (athlon)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Athlete Ath"lete, n. [L. athleta, Gr. ? prizefighter, fr. ? to contend for a prize, ?, Hom. ?, contest, ? prize; fr. the same root as E. wed: cf. F. athl[`e]te.] 1. (Antiq.) One who contended for a prize in the public games of ancient Greece or Rome. 2. Any one trained to contend in exercises requiring great physical agility and strength; one who has great activity and strength; a champion. 3. One fitted for, or skilled in, intellectual contests; as, athletes of debate.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(athletes) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. An athlete is a person who does a sport, especially athletics, or track and field events. Daley Thompson was a great athlete. N-COUNT 2. You can refer to someone who is fit and athletic as an athlete. I was no athlete. N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Combatant, champion, contender for victory, trained contestant, gymnast, muscular expert.

Foolish Dictionary

A dignified bunch of muscles, unable to split wood or sift the ashes.

Moby Thesaurus

amateur athlete, archer, ballplayer, baseballer, baseman, batter, battery, blocking back, bowman, catcher, center, coach, competitor, cricketer, defensive lineman, end, footballer, games-player, gamester, guard, infielder, jock, jumper, lineman, offensive lineman, outfield, outfielder, player, poloist, professional athlete, pugilist, quarterback, racer, skater, sport, sportsman, tackle, tailback, toxophilite, wingback, wrestler