ENGLISH
REFERENCE

medal

n. · v.
US //ˈmɛdəɫ// UK //mˈɛdəl// medal
  1. 1 an award (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    a flat piece of metal, usually like a coin, given as a prize for winning a race or for doing something brave.

    a small, flat piece of metal, typically circular, awarded as a mark of distinction for military bravery or sporting excellence.

    Example

    The runner was proud to wear her gold medal after winning the marathon.

    Example

    The veteran was presented with a silver medal for gallantry during the ceremony at the capital.
  2. 2 a religious or decorative object (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Religion

    a metal disc worn for religious reasons or as a piece of jewellery.

    a metal disc used as a personal ornament, a religious charm, or a commemorative object not necessarily tied to a competition.

    Example

    He wore a small St. Christopher medal on a chain around his neck for protection.

    Example

    The antique shop displayed several nineteenth-century religious medals crafted from tarnished bronze and silver.
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  1. 3 to give an award (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to officially give a medal to someone.

    to decorate or honour a person by awarding them a medal. This transitive use is less common than the intransitive sporting sense.

    Example

    The general will medal the soldiers for their service during the parade.

    Example

    The state chose to medal the returning explorers in recognition of their significant contributions to geographic science.
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.

Word family

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