# sport

Pronunciation: US say "SPORT" /spɔɹt/; UK say "SPAWT" /spɔːt/

## Noun

1. An activity involving physical effort and skill, usually done competitively under set rules, for exercise or entertainment.
   - Simple: An activity where people use their bodies and skills, often competing against others under set rules.
   - _Rugby is a demanding sport that rewards both speed and strength._
   - _He believes sport teaches discipline as much as physical fitness._
3. A person judged by how they behave when losing or being teased; a good sport takes it cheerfully, a bad or sore sport does not.
   - Simple: A person thought of by how well they take losing or jokes, as in 'a good sport' or 'a bad sport.'
   - _Even after the prank, she was a real sport about the whole thing._
   - _He proved himself a good sport by laughing along with the joke._
4. Used as a friendly, informal form of address, especially to a boy or to a male friend. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A friendly word used when talking to someone, especially a boy or a man, as in 'Thanks, sport.'
   - _Good to see you, sport. It's been far too long._
   - _Don't worry about it, sport, we'll sort it out together._
7. Amusement or playfulness; something done for pleasure or in jest rather than seriously.
   - Simple: Fun. Something done just for enjoyment or as a joke, not for a serious reason.
   - _They hunted not from need but for sport, returning empty-handed and content._
   - _There was little sport to be had in the dreary village that season._
8. A plant or animal (or part of one) that shows a peculiarity not usually seen in its species; an abnormal variety or growth arising from either mutation or a developmental defect.
   - Simple: A plant or animal that has an unusual feature not normally seen in others of its kind.
   - _The orchard's prize apple began as a single sport on an ordinary tree._
   - _Breeders noticed a sport among the seedlings and propagated it carefully._
10. A person, usually a man, devoted to pleasure, especially gambling and betting, and often keeping disreputable company. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A man who lives for fun, betting and gambling, often spending time with bad company.
12. A toy or plaything; a person or thing treated as an object of mockery.
   - Simple: A toy or plaything, or a person that others make fun of.
   - _To the cruel courtiers he was nothing but a sport, mocked at every turn._
   - _After losing his job and his home in one week, he felt like the sport of fate._

## Verb

2. To display something proudly or have it as a notable feature.
   - Simple: To show off something you have, like a new look or item.
   - _The new building sports a green roof and solar panels._
   - _Veterans often sport medals on formal occasions._
5. To play or amuse oneself in a lively, lighthearted, carefree way.
   - Simple: To play happily and freely just for fun.
   - _The children sported by the river until sunset._
   - _Otters sport along the riverbank, sliding down the mud._
6. To mock or tease someone, treating them lightly or toying with their feelings.
   - Simple: To make fun of someone or treat them in a teasing way.
   - _The cat seemed to sport with the mouse, letting it go and catching it again._
   - _It's cruel to sport with someone's hopes like that._
9. Of a bud, shoot, plant, or animal, to suddenly take on a new character different from the rest of the organism or its species.
   - Simple: To suddenly grow a part that looks very different from the rest of the plant or animal.
   - _A camellia may sport, throwing out a single branch whose blossoms differ entirely from the rest._
   - _One shoot sported, bearing variegated foliage that the gardener later propagated._

## Noun

11. Mockery or derision; the act of making fun of a person. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: The act of making fun of someone in an unkind way.
   - _The courtiers made sport of the foolish ambassador behind his back._
   - _He endured their sport in silence, refusing to give them the satisfaction of a reply._
13. Playful amorous activity; flirtation or a love affair pursued for pleasure. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Light, playful love or flirting between two people.

## Verb

14. To close or shut a door, especially to signal that one wishes to be left alone. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: To shut a door, especially to show you do not want visitors.

## Other meanings

- (noun) Gambling for money through pursuits such as racing, hunting, or fishing.
- (verb) To portray or represent something by means of play or dramatic action.
- (verb) To pursue field sports such as hunting and fishing or horse racing, and to be given to betting on races.

## Origin

"Sport" is a shortened form of "disport," from Middle English "sporten" and "sport." These come from Old French "desporter" (to divert, amuse, or play), which literally meant to carry the mind away from serious matters, built from "des-" plus "porter," from Latin "portare" (to carry), and ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning to lead or pass over. It is a doublet of "disport" and "deport."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/sport (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).