athlete

(ăth'lēt')
n.
A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts.

[Middle English, from Latin āthlēta, from Greek āthlētēs, contestant, from āthlein, to contend, possibly from āthlos, contest.]

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An athlete is an individual who, by virtue of special training or natural talent, is fit to compete in a physically demanding sport. The term is derived from the Latin word ‘athleta’, referring to a person who competed in physical exercises for a prize.

An athlete thought to have a lot of natural talent is often called a ‘born athlete’. Such an athlete usually exhibits great proficiency in a range of physical activities, apparently after little practice. Most great athletes are genetically endowed with high athletic potential, but this potential is rarely realized without many years of hard and dedicated training. Great athletes, therefore, are generally made, not born.

Popularly, especially in Britain: participant in track or field athletics. In US and elsewhere, and among sports scientists everywhere: participant in any physically vigorous sport or recreation. A person gifted in and trained for vigorous sport.

— Neil C. Spurway

See sport; sports science.

n

Definition: competitor
Antonyms: spectator

An individual who, by virtue of special training or natural talent, is fit to compete in a physically demanding sport. The term athlete is derived from the Latin word ‘athleta’, which referred to a person who competed in physical exercises for a prize.

IN BRIEF: A physically fit person who enjoys sports and exercise.

Mr. Simpson was no athlete, but he liked to play football.

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Quotes:

"Durability is part of what makes a great athlete." - Bill Russell

For a list of words related to athlete, see:

• Occupations and Job Titles
• General Sports Terminology

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See words rhyming with "athlete."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Athlete.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - atlet, sportsmand

idioms:

• athlete's foot    fodsvamp

Nederlands (Dutch)
atleet, atletisch type, sterke jongen

Français (French)
n. - athlète

idioms:

• athlete's foot    (Méd) pied d'athlète

Deutsch (German)
n. - Athlet, Leichtathlet, Sportler

idioms:

• athlete's foot    Athletenfuß, Fußpilz

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - αθλητής, αγωνιστής

idioms:

• athlete's foot    μυκητίαση των ποδιών

Italiano (Italian)
atleta

idioms:

• athlete's foot    micosi del piede

Português (Portuguese)
n. - atleta (m) (f)

idioms:

• athlete's foot    pé (m) de atleta (Med.)

Русский (Russian)
спортсмен, бегун, легкоатлет

idioms:

• athlete's foot    болезнь, вызываемая грибком, живущим на влажных тканях

Español (Spanish)
n. - atleta

idioms:

• athlete's foot    pie de atleta

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - idrottsman

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
运动员, 运动选手

idioms:

• athlete's foot    香港脚, 脚湿气, 脚癣

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 運動員, 運動選手

idioms:

• athlete's foot    香港腳, 腳濕氣, 腳癬

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 운동가, 육상 경기자, 강건한 사람

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 運動家, 競技者, 強壮な人, スポーツマン

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) رياضي, لاعب رياضي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮אתלט‬

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