sport
pronunciation
How to pronounce sport in British English:
UK [spɔːt]
How to pronounce sport in American English:
US [spɔːrt]
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- Noun:
- an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
- the occupation of athletes who compete for pay
- someone who engages in sports
- (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration
- (Maine colloquial) temporary summer resident of inland Maine
- verbal wit (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously)
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- Verb:
- wear or display in an ostentatious or proud manner
- play boisterously
Word Origin
- sport
- sport: [14] Sport is short for disport [14]. This came from Anglo-Norman desporter ‘carry away’, hence ‘divert’, a compound verb formed from the prefix des- ‘apart’ and porter ‘carry’. The noun originally meant ‘amusement, recreation’, and it was not used in its main modern sense ‘athletic contests’ until the mid 19th century.=> disport, port, portable
- sport (v.)
- c. 1400, "to take pleasure, to amuse oneself," from Old French desporter, deporter "to divert, amuse, please, play" (see disport). Restricted sense of "amuse oneself by active exercise in open air or taking part in some game" is from late 15c. Meaning "to wear" is from 1778. Related: Sported; sporting.
- sport (n.)
- early 15c., "pleasant pastime," shortening of disport "activity that offers amusement or relaxation; entertainment, fun" (c. 1300), also "a pastime or game; flirtation; pleasure taken in such activity" (late 14c.), from Anglo-French disport, Old French desport, deport "pleasure, enjoyment, delight; solace, consolation; favor, privilege," related to desporter, deporter "to divert, amuse, please, play" (see sport (v.)). Original sense preserved in phrases such as in sport "in jest" (mid-15c.). Meaning "game involving physical exercise" first recorded 1520s. Sense of "stylish man" is from 1861, American English, probably because they lived by gambling and betting on races. Meaning "good fellow" is attested from 1881 (as in be a sport, 1913). Sport as a familiar form of address to a man is from 1935, Australian English. The sport of kings was originally (1660s) war-making. Other, lost senses of Middle English disport were "consolation, solace; a source of comfort."
Example
- 1. Football is the most popular sport in suriname .
- 2. Fortunately for the badger , the popularity of this sport has decreased considerably .
- 3. For the most part this remains a minority sport .
- 4. Above all , the games prove beyond doubt that sport and work are mutually exclusive activities .
- 5. The popular sport is football .