Definition of sport

Email this page to a friend

< sporran

sport fish >

sport    (spôrt, sprt) KEY 

NOUN:

1. 1. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
   2. A particular form of this activity.
2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
3. An active pastime; recreation.
4. 1. Mockery; jest: He made sport of his own looks.
   2. An object of mockery, jest, or play: treated our interests as sport.
   3. A joking mood or attitude: She made the remark in sport.
5. 1. One known for the manner of one's acceptance of rules, especially of a game, or of a difficult situation: a poor sport.
   2. Informal One who accepts rules or difficult situations well.
   3. Informal A pleasant companion: was a real sport during the trip.
6. Informal
   1. A person who lives a jolly, extravagant life.
   2. A gambler at sporting events.
7. Biology An organism that shows a marked change from the normal type or parent stock, typically as a result of mutation.
8. Maine See summercater. See Regional Note at summercater.
9. Obsolete Amorous dalliance; lovemaking.

VERB:
sport·ed, sport·ing, sports
VERB:
intr.

1. To play or frolic.
2. To joke or trifle.
3. Biology To mutate.

VERB:
tr.

To display or show off: "His shoes sported elevated heels" (Truman Capote).

ADJECTIVE:
or sports

1. Of, relating to, or appropriate for sports: sport fishing; sports equipment.
2. Designed or appropriate for outdoor or informal wear: a sport shirt.

---

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English sporte, short for disporte, from Old French desport, pleasure, from desporter, to divert ; see disport

OTHER FORMS:
sportful(Adjective), sportful·ly(Adverb), sportful·ness(Noun)