ENGLISH
REFERENCE

gymnastics

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //dʒɪmˈnæstɪks// UK //dʒɪmnˈɑːstɪks// gym·nas·tics

n. a sport that involves physical exercises requiring strength, balance, and flexibility. You often see athletes performing on equipment like bars, beams, or mats.

n. a physical discipline involving the performance of systematic exercises requiring strength, agility, and coordination. Refers to both the competitive sport and general physical training.


SIMPLE

She practices gymnastics every day after school.

CONTEXTUAL

The school added gymnastics to the physical education curriculum to help students improve their core strength and balance.

COMPLEX

Olympic gymnastics requires a rare combination of explosive power and artistic grace, as athletes must execute complex aerial maneuvers with perfect landing precision.

Origin

From gymnastic: see -ics; from Latin gymnasticus, from Ancient Greek γυμναστικός (gumnastikós), from γυμναστής (gumnastḗs, “athlete, gymnast”), from γῠμνᾰ́ζω (gŭmnắzō, “to train, exercise”), from γυμνός (gumnós, “naked”), because Greek athletes trained naked. By surface analysis, gymnast + -ics.

Usage

Treated as a singular noun despite the 's' ending; takes a singular verb (e.g., 'gymnastics is').

Pitfall

Gymnastics are my favorite sport.Gymnastics is my favorite sport.Like 'physics' or 'mathematics', this word is singular in construction and requires a singular verb.

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