sport
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a game or activity that needs physical effort and skill, usually played against others.
n.a competitive physical activity or game conducted according to a specific set of rules.
Simple“Football is the most popular sport in many countries around the world.”
In context“The school offers a wide range of team sports, including rugby and field hockey, to encourage physical fitness among students.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.someone who is fair and does not get angry when they lose.
n.a person who reacts to defeat or teasing with good-natured resilience; often used in the phrase 'a good sport'.
Simple“Thanks for being such a good sport about the joke we played on you.”
In context“Even after the controversial refereeing decision cost him the match, he remained a good sport and shook his opponent's hand.”
Synonymsgood natured person - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a friendly way to address a man or a boy.
n.an informal term of address for a male peer or a child, functioning as a marker of camaraderie.
Simple“How are you doing, sport? I haven't seen you in ages.”
In context“The old man patted the boy on the shoulder and said, 'Don't worry about it, sport; you'll do better next time.'”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a plant or animal that is different from others of its kind because of a natural change.
n.an organism or part of an organism that shows a marked variation from the normal type as a result of mutation.
Simple“The gardener noticed a white flower on the red rose bush and realised it was a sport.”
In context“In botany, a sport can often be propagated to create a new cultivar with unique aesthetic characteristics.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to wear something or have a feature that people will notice.
v.to wear or display something ostentatiously or as a notable feature.
Simple“He decided to sport a new moustache for the summer holidays.”
In context“The vintage car was sporting a fresh coat of paint and original chrome bumpers for the parade.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
v.to play or enjoy yourself in a happy way.
v.to play or frolic in a lighthearted manner; often used of animals or children.
Simple“The lambs were sporting in the green fields under the afternoon sun.”
In context“The poet described the dolphins sporting in the wake of the ship as it crossed the calm Mediterranean.”
Synonyms
From Middle English sporten (“to divert, disport”, verb) and sport, spoort, sporte (noun), apheretic shortenings of disporten (verb) and disport, disporte (noun), from Old French desporter (“to divert, amuse, please, play; to seek amusement”), etymologically meaning "to carry away (the mind from serious matters)," from des- + porter, from Latin dis- + Latin portāre, ultimately from Latin deportāre, from de- + portāre, from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to lead, pass over”)). Replaced native English laik, lake (“sport, fun, amusement”), and Middle English spile, spyl (“fun, sport, play”). More at disport. Doublet of disport and deport.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.