sports
sports — noun
1. an activity in which people move their bodies and follow rules to win, either fo
an activity in which people move their bodies and follow rules to win, either for fun or as a paid job.
Karim loves team sports like football and basketball.
plural countable: team sports
Swimming is the only sport that Lisa enjoys in summer.
singular countable: a named sport
Many children at the school play a sport every afternoon.
Nellie believes that daily sport keeps her body strong and her mind calm.
The Olympic Games bring together the best players from every sport.
文法句型
play + sport
do + a sport
用法筆記
Countable for a particular game (a sport, three sports); uncountable for the wider activity (good at sport). British English prefers uncountable 'sport' where American English often says 'sports'.
常見錯誤
2. light joking or teasing that is meant for amusement, sometimes aimed unkindly at
light joking or teasing that is meant for amusement, sometimes aimed unkindly at another person.
Feng said the rude nickname only in sport, not to wound anyone.
fixed phrase: in sport (= as a joke)
The older boys made sport of Minh's worn shoes until the teacher stopped them.
collocation: make sport of someone
There was gentle sport in the way Joaquin teased his sister at dinner.
Apinya wrote the birthday poem half in earnest and half in sport.
文法句型
in sport
make sport of someone
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this is an uncountable, literary or old-fashioned word for joking, surviving mainly in the fixed phrases 'in sport' and 'make sport of'. It never refers to a physical game.
3. a person who stays cheerful and fair when they lose or are teased, rather than g
a person who stays cheerful and fair when they lose or are teased, rather than getting angry or upset.
Kofi was a good sport and laughed when the joke landed on him.
fixed phrase: a good sport
Be a sport and let your little brother win one round.
informal appeal: be a sport
Reuben lost the final match but stayed a real sport about it.
Nobody likes a bad sport who sulks after losing a game.
- trooper
informal; praises someone who copes bravely, less tied to fairness
- spoilsport
someone who ruins others' fun
文法句型
a good/bad sport
用法筆記
Subject is always a person, and the word carries a judgement about their attitude. Distinguish from sense 1 (an activity): here 'a sport' is someone, not something you play.
常見錯誤
4. a plant or animal that suddenly looks very different from its parents because of
a plant or animal that suddenly looks very different from its parents because of a change in its genes.
The red apple grew on the tree as a sport, unlike its green neighbours.
countable: a sport (= a mutant)
Gardeners often keep a sport when its new flower colour is pretty.
The breeder noticed a white kitten that was a sport in the grey litter.
A single yellow rose appeared on the bush as a sport last spring.
- mutant
the general scientific term; 'sport' is the older horticultural word
用法筆記
Only used in biology and gardening. The subject is a plant or animal, never a person in everyday speech. Distinguish sharply from sense 1's game meaning.
sports — adjective
1. used before a noun to show that something is made for or connected with sport.
used before a noun to show that something is made for or connected with sport.
Ishaan bought new sports shoes before the school race.
attributive: sports + noun
The town built a large sports centre with a pool and courts.
collocation: sports centre
Elise reads the sports pages of the newspaper every morning.
A fast sports car was parked outside the bright hotel.
- athletic
stresses the body and physical effort, not just the link to sport
文法句型
sports + noun
用法筆記
Only used before a noun, never after 'be' (you cannot say 'the car is sports'). The plural-looking form 'sports' is the standard attributive shape even when one sport is meant.
常見錯誤
sports — verb
1. to play happily and freely, jumping or running about with no serious aim.
to play happily and freely, jumping or running about with no serious aim.
Young lambs sported in the green field after the spring rain.
intransitive: sport + in [place]
Maeve watched the dolphins sport among the gentle waves.
collocation: sport among/in water
The puppies sported on the warm sand while the children built castles.
Two squirrels sported around the old oak tree in the park.
文法句型
sport + in/about/around
用法筆記
Literary or old-fashioned, and intransitive. The subject is usually an animal or a child playing freely. Distinguish from the noun: here 'sport' is the action of frolicking, not an organised game.
2. to wear or show something in a proud way so that other people clearly notice it.
to wear or show something in a proud way so that other people clearly notice it.
Christopher sported a bright red bow tie to the school dance.
transitive: sport + [item worn]
Lea sported a wide grin after winning the spelling prize.
collocation: sport a grin / smile
The old sailor sported a thick grey beard and a gold earring.
Ryo sported a new tattoo on his arm and showed everyone.
文法句型
sport + noun
用法筆記
Object is usually something visible that the subject is pleased to display: clothing, a beard, a smile, a new gadget. Distinguish from sense 1 (frolicking), which is intransitive.