Definition
n. a winter sport that combines two different activities: cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Athletes must ski a long distance and stop at certain points to shoot at targets.
n. a winter sporting event consisting of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Competitors alternate between periods of high-intensity skiing and precision marksmanship, with missed shots resulting in time penalties or extra distance.
Examples
“She practiced her shooting every day to prepare for the biathlon.”
“The athlete's heart rate was so high after the uphill climb that it was difficult to stay steady during the biathlon shooting round.”
“Success in the biathlon requires a rare physiological balance between cardiovascular endurance for the skiing portions and the extreme calm necessary for accurate target engagement.”
Examples
simple
“She practiced her shooting every day to prepare for the biathlon.”
contextual
“The athlete's heart rate was so high after the uphill climb that it was difficult to stay steady during the biathlon shooting round.”
complex
“Success in the biathlon requires a rare physiological balance between cardiovascular endurance for the skiing portions and the extreme calm necessary for accurate target engagement.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “biathlon” in context.
Verb
01. biathlon combines
“The biathlon combines the endurance of skiing with the precision of shooting.”
noun + verb
02. biathlon consists of
“A standard biathlon consists of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.”
noun + verb + prep
03. dominate biathlon
“Scandinavian countries have continued to dominate biathlon for decades.”
verb + noun
04. enter biathlon
“She decided to enter the biathlon after excelling in cross-country skiing.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. competitive biathlon
“He spent ten years in competitive biathlon before retiring to coach.”
adj + noun
06. summer biathlon
“Summer biathlon replaces skis with roller skis or running.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. biathlon circuit
“Athletes travel across Europe to compete on the professional biathlon circuit.”
noun + noun
08. biathlon event
“The individual biathlon event is scheduled for the second day of the games.”
noun + noun
09. biathlon world cup
“Fans gathered in Germany for the latest round of the Biathlon World Cup.”
noun + noun + noun
10. compete in a biathlon
“It takes years of training to compete in a biathlon at the international level.”
11. grueling biathlon race
“The athletes were exhausted after finishing the grueling biathlon race in heavy snow.”
12. qualify for the biathlon
“She is training hard to qualify for the biathlon in the next Winter Olympics.”
Usage
Often used with the verb 'compete in' or 'enter'.
Real-World Examples
“The sport of biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and precision target shooting, requires hundreds of hours of training annually and the ability to push your body to the maximum effort for an athlete to have a chance of success at the Olympics.” “Biathlon, which combines rifle shooting and cross-country skiing, developed out of Scandinavian military training exercises.” “Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with precision rifle shooting.” “Each biathlon race begins with a ski loop.” Etymology
The word biathlon is a 20th-century coinage formed from the prefix bi-, signifying two or both, and the suffix -athlon, meaning contest. The construction was modelled after pentathlon, drawing its second element from the Ancient Greek āthlon. The root descends from the Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁, the numeral two.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0