Definition

Noun: 1. A physical activity or sport consisting of exercises designed to demonstrate and develop physical attributes such as strength, balance, flexibility, and agility. 2. A specific, structured movement or routine, often performed on specialized apparatus, intended to train or showcase these physical attributes.

Examples

• The training regimen includes daily gymnastic exercises like handstands and cartwheels.
• On the parallel bars, he performed a complex gymnastic exercise that required immense upper-body strength.
• Gymnastic exercise is fundamental to the training of acrobats and dancers.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used in a broader, metaphorical sense to describe any activity requiring great skill, precision, and control.
  • Negotiating the delicate political situation was a mental gymnastic exercise.

Variants and Related Words

• Gymnastics (n): The sport or system of exercises as a whole.
  • She has trained in gymnastics since she was five.
• Gymnast (n): A person who is skilled in gymnastics.
• Gymnastic (adj): Relating to gymnastics.
  • The team showed gymnastic prowess.

Synonyms

• Calisthenics
• Physical exercise
• Workout routine (in a general fitness context)

Notes on Meaning

• The term strongly implies a focus on form, technique, and the aesthetic quality of the movement, beyond mere physical exertion.
• It is often associated with formal training and structured routines, as opposed to informal play or general fitness activities.

Noun

1. a sport that involves exercises intended to display strength and balance and agility
2. (gymnastics) an exercise designed to develop and display strength and agility and balance (usually performed with or on some gymnastic apparatus)