ATHLETIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does athletic mean? 

• ATHLETIC (adjective)
  The adjective ATHLETIC has 3 senses:

1. relating to or befitting athletics or athletes

2. vigorously active

3. having a sturdy and well proportioned body

  Familiarity information: ATHLETIC used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ATHLETIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to or befitting athletics or athletes

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

athletic facilities

Pertainym:

athletics (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Derivation:

athlete (a person trained to compete in sports)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Vigorously active

Synonyms:

acrobatic; athletic; gymnastic

Context example:

gymnastic exercises

Similar:

active (characterized by energetic activity)

Derivation:

athletics (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having a sturdy and well proportioned body

Context example:

an athletic build

Similar:

mesomorphic; muscular (having a robust muscular body-build characterized by predominance of structures (bone and muscle and connective tissue) developed from the embryonic mesodermal layer)

 Context examples 

That allows us to integrate electronics on flexible substrates, like clothing, shoes, and wrist bands for real time monitoring of biomedical diagnostics and athletic performance.

(Materials for the next generation of electronics and photovoltaics, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The Basenji is a small, elegant, athletic dog about the size of a fox terrier, with a smooth shiny coat of copper, red, black and tan, black and brindle.

(Basenji, NCI Thesaurus)

The Curly-Coated Retriever is a large, athletic retriever with a distinctive crisp curly coat.

(Curly-Coated Retriever, NCI Thesaurus)

The English Foxhound is a clean-cut, athletic hound, with a long muzzle and wide skull.

(English Foxhound, NCI Thesaurus)

This is a small, compact, athletic dog.

(Jack Russell Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)

This young fellow had employed his afternoon at the athletic grounds, where he had been practising the jump.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Pharaoh Hound is an athletic sight hound.

(Pharaoh Hound, NCI Thesaurus)

She was a big woman, in stature almost equalling her husband, and corpulent besides: she showed virile force in the contest—more than once she almost throttled him, athletic as he was.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The Judge was at a meeting of the Raisin Growers’ Association, and the boys were busy organizing an athletic club, on the memorable night of Manuel’s treachery.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Violent life and athletic sports had never appealed to me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)