olympiad
/'ɔləpɔ'dri:də/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A period of four years: Specifically, the four-year interval between successive celebrations of the ancient Olympic Games, used as a unit of time reckoning in ancient Greece.
- A modern international competition: A major international contest, often in fields such as science, mathematics, or chess, held on a regular basis. It can also refer to the celebration of the modern Olympic Games themselves.
Usage Examples
Noun (Four-year interval):
- The ancient Greeks dated events by the number of the Olympiad.
- The first recorded Olympiad began in 776 BC.
Noun (Modern competition):
- She won a gold medal at the International Mathematics Olympiad.
- The city prepared for the upcoming Summer Olympiad.
Advanced Usage
- "to reckon by Olympiads": To measure or calculate time using the four-year cycle of the ancient Olympic Games.
- Historians sometimes reckon by Olympiads when studying ancient Greek chronology.
Variants and Related Words
- Olympic (adj): Of or relating to the Olympic Games or an Olympiad.
- The Olympic flame is a powerful symbol.
- Olympian (adj/noun): Of or relating to the ancient Greek gods of Olympus; or, a participant in the Olympic Games.
- She possessed an Olympian calm. (adj)
- The Olympian stood proudly on the podium. (noun)
Synonyms
- Quadrennium: A period of four years.
- Games: A meeting for athletic competitions (context-specific synonym for the modern event).
Related Phrases
- Science Olympiad: A specific type of academic team competition in various science disciplines.
- Our school's team is competing in the state Science Olympiad.
- Olympiad year: A year in which the Olympic Games are held.
- The next Olympiad year is 2028.
Noun
- the modern revival of the ancient games held once every 4 years in a selected country
- one of the four-year intervals between Olympic Games; used to reckon time in ancient Greece for twelve centuries beginning in 776 BC