ENGLISH
REFERENCE

medal

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈmɛdəɫ// UK //mˈɛdəl// medal General-service Informal

n. a small metal disc given to someone to reward them for winning a race or doing something brave.

n. a small, flat piece of metal, typically circular, awarded to a person for excellence in sports, military service, or other achievements.


SIMPLE

She won a gold medal in the swimming race.

CONTEXTUAL

The veteran was presented with a medal for his bravery during the rescue mission last winter.

COMPLEX

While the silver medal represents a significant achievement on the global stage, many athletes find the immediate aftermath of a second-place finish to be bittersweet.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English [Term?], from Middle French medaille, medale, from Italian medaglia (originally "half a denarius"), from Early Medieval Latin medālia, feminine derived via dissimilation (/dj–lj/ > /d–lj/) from mediālia, neuter plural of Late Latin mediālis (“middle”, adjective), from Classical Latin medius.

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'win', 'award', or 'earn'.

Pitfall

He won a gold meddleHe won a gold medalLearners often confuse the noun 'medal' with the verb 'meddle' (to interfere), which is pronounced identically.

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