Unit 2 - Success

Word

Definition

Example

beat

to defeat someone in a game, competition, election, or battle

In last night's match, Real Madrid beat Liverpool 2–0

court

an area marked with lines where some sports are played, such as tennis and squash

Heavy rain flooded the tennis court and the match was abandoned

draw

a game that ends with both teams or players having the same number of points

England drew 0–0 with France in the first match of the tournament

field event

a sports event that is not a race and that an athlete does alone, not as part of a team. The long jump and the javelin are field events

She competed in two field events: the high jump and the shot put

(football) boots

a type of shoe that is worn for a particular sport, e.g. football

Tom got new football boots for his birthday

(football) match

a game in which players or teams compete against each other, especially in a sport, e.g. football

I went to the stadium to watch the match

(football) pitch

a flat area of ground used for playing particular sports, e.g. football

Heavy snow fell, covering the football pitch in a very thick, white blanket

goggles

special glasses that protect your eyes, for example when you are using a dangerous machine or when you are swimming

I always wear goggles when I swim in the pool

(golf) club

a long stick that is used for hitting the ball in golf

Simon spent a fortune on a new set of golf clubs

(golf) course

a large area of land designed for playing golf that usually has 18 different sections called holes

The hotel has a swimming pool and an 18-hole golf course

helmet

a hard hat that you wear to protect your head

You should always wear a helmet when you ride your bike

hole

a space dug in the surface of the ground

Tony hit the golf ball cleanly and it went straight into the hole

knee pads

a thick piece of a substance such as cloth which can be attached to your knees for protection

She wears elbow and knee pads when she goes skateboarding

lane

one of the parts that a swimming pool or sportstrack is divided into, intended for one swimmer or one runner

At the swimming pool, they've set aside a lane for people who are learning to swim

meeting

a competition between two players or teams

We are supposed to take part in the athletics meeting tomorrow afternoon

opponent

someone who is competing against you

Andy Murray won against his Australian opponent in straight sets

penalty

a punishment for breaking a rule or law

The referee awarded the penalty to the visiting team

pole

a long thin stick, often used for holding or supporting something

Have you seen my skiing poles? I can't find them anywhere

practise

to repeat an activity regularly so that you become better at it

Paul and Steve practised taking penalties in the park

racket

an object used for hitting the ball in games such as tennis, with a long handle and a round part with string

The tennis player threw down his racket in frustration when he lost the match

referee

someone whose job is to make sure that players in a game obey the rules

The referee gave the player a red card for making a dangerous tackle

rink

a large flat area where people go to skate or to play ice hockey

We went to the ice rink to watch the hockey match

Rollerblades

boots with a single row of small wheels along the bottom, used for moving quickly along, especially for fun or as a sport

I can't wait to try out my new pair of Rollerblades

runner-up

a person or team that does not win a competition or race but is second, or is close to winning

I was the runner-up in the long jump in the athletics category

running

the activity of running for pleasure or as a sport

Sally has taken up running in order to keep fit

(silver) medallist

someone who is awarded a medal for coming in second place during a sporting event

It wasn't Carlos' first time as a silver medallist: he came second in the same event in London

slalom

a race, especially on skis, in which people move around a series of poles, turning first one way and then the other

Katya came fifth in the slalom

slope

a straight surface that has one end higher than the other

The first time I went skiing I used the beginners' slope

spectator

someone who watches a public activity or event, especially a sports event

The best sportspeople perform to millions of spectators all over the world

starting blocks

a device used by athletes at the start of a race to prevent them from slipping

The runner flew out of the starting blocks and sprinted down the track

(swimming) pool

a large structure filled with water for people to swim in

Sandra swims sixty lengths of the pool every week

(tennis) net

material made of string or rope woven into a loose pattern with spaces in it (in tennis it is the thing which the players hit the ball over)

Williams hit the ball into the net and Sharapova won the match

time out

a short period of time when you stop for a rest during some sporting events

The coach called for a time out with two minutes left on the clock

tournament

a series of games in which the winner of each game plays in the next game until there is one player or team left

Spain knocked Brazil out of the tournament after beating them 2–1

track

a piece of ground used for racing

When I was at school they made us run around the track every morning

trunks

men's shorts worn for swimming and other sports

Charlie forgot his trunks so he couldn't go swimming

umpire

someone whose job is to make sure that players obey the rules in some sports, for example tennis, baseball, and cricket

The umpire's decision to replay the point was very unpopular with the crowd

vest

a piece of clothing for the upper half of the body with no sleeves or collar

I wear a vest and shorts when I play basketball

viewer

someone who is watching, or who watches, television programmes

The World Cup opening ceremony was watched by a record number of viewers

win

to defeat everyone else by being the best or by finishing first in a competition

Novak Djokovic won the Wimbledon men's singles category in 2015