water-polo
Definition
- Noun:
- A team sport played in water: "water-polo" is a game played in a swimming pool, where two teams of seven players each attempt to score goals by throwing a ball into the opposing team's net. It combines swimming, ball-handling, and tactical play.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- She has been playing water-polo for five years and is now on the national team. (She participates in the sport of water-polo.)
- Water-polo is often considered one of the most physically demanding Olympic sports. (The sport requires great endurance and strength.)
Advanced Usage
"Water-polo ball": the specific ball used in the sport, which is slightly smaller and more buoyant than a standard soccer ball.
- The water-polo ball is designed to be easily gripped when wet. (The ball is made for handling in water.)
"Water-polo cap": a protective cap worn by players to identify their team and protect the ears.
- Each player must wear a water-polo cap with a number. (The cap is part of the uniform.)
Variants and Related Words
Water-polo player (noun phrase): an athlete who plays water-polo.
- A water-polo player must be a strong swimmer. (The sport requires swimming skills.)
Water-polo match (noun phrase): a single game of water-polo.
- The water-polo match lasted for four quarters. (The game had four periods.)
Synonyms
- No direct synonyms: "water-polo" is a specific sport with no common synonyms in English.
Phrasal Verbs
- Play water-polo: the standard way to refer to participating in the sport.
- They play water-polo every Saturday at the local pool. (They engage in the sport regularly.)
Related Idioms
- No common idioms directly involving "water-polo": the sport is too specific to have idiomatic expressions.
Additional Notes
- The word is often written as "water polo" (without a hyphen) in modern English, but "water-polo" is also accepted, especially in British English and older texts. The sport is governed by FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation).