Unit 5, Sports and Games

Word

Definition

Example

ball

a round object that is thrown, kicked, or hit in a game or sport

Hockey balls are harder than tennis balls

bat

a long wooden stick with a special shape that is used in some sports and games

Cricket bats are usually made from wood

beat

to get the most points, votes etc in a game, race, or competition 

The other team played very badly so we beat them easily

competitor

a person, team, company etc that is competing with another

Last year they sold twice as many computers as their competitors

course

a series of lessons in a particular subject

There's a golf course near my house but I've never played

court

an area made for playing games such as tennis

Shall we hire a tennis court on Saturday morning?

cue

a long straight wooden stick used for hitting the ball in games such as billiards and pool

Sam forgot his cue for the snooker game and had to go home!

draw

to finish without either side winning in a game such as football

They are drawing at the moment and it isn't long until the final whistle. They'll have to play extra time

field

an area of ground where sports are played

Our local sports centre has a football field which it shares with the school

opponent

someone who you try to defeat in a competition, game, fight, or argument

It's a good idea to find out information about an opponent before an important match

pitch

a marked out area of ground on which a sport is played

It's an artificial football pitch but I really like playing on it

racket

a specially shaped piece of wood or metalthat you use for hitting the ball in games such as tennis, that has a circle filled with tight strings at one end

After a period of time, rackets need to be restrung

referee

someone who makes sure that the rules of a sport such as football, basketball, or boxing, are followed

Do you think the referee was fair in the game yesterday?

ring

a small square area surrounded by ropes, where people box or wrestle

The two boxers are in the ring now and the fight is about to start

rink

a specially prepared area of ice that you can skate on

In the winter, they build an ice skating rink in the square in town

rod

long thin pole used with a line and hook for catching fish

I never travel to the sea without a fishing rod!

score

to win a point in a sport, game, competition, or test

They scored two goals in the first five minutes. It was amazing!

spectator

someone who is watching an event or game

There was a great atmosphere in the stadium thanks to the spectators

stick

a long, specially shaped piece of wood, plastic etc that you use in some sports to hit a ball

The two players' sticks smashed against each other and broke!

track

a circular course around which runners, cars etc race, which often has a specially prepared surface

If you want to watch the motor racing, you'll find you get a much better view of the track on television

umpire

the person who makes sure that the players obey the rules in sports such as tennis, baseball, and cricket

The umpire awarded the final point to Joe's opponent

viewer

someone who watches television

Millions of viewers watched the opening ceremony on TV

win

to be the best or most successful in a competition, game, election

I never win at cards

check out

look at sth in order to evaluate it

Check out this website – it might help us with our project

knock out

make sb leave a competition after losing

She was knocked out of the singing competition in the fourth round

listen out for

listen carefully to try to hear sth

Let's listen out for any announcements about trains being delayed

make out

see, hear, understand, distinguish

Can you make out what that sign over there says?

mind out

be careful

Mind out! That car's reversing

pull out

stop being involved in an activity, event, situation, etc

Tina was going to be in the team but had to pull out because of an injury

stand out

be more visible, better, etc. than others

One camera stood out from all the others in terms of design

stick out

be more visible, etc. than others

She wasn't a great player so she really stuck out in the basketball team

adjust to

alter or move (something) slightly in order to achieve the desired fit, appearance, or result

It took me a few months to adjust to my new school

anxious about

feeling or showing worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome

Are you anxious about tomorrow's exam?

ban (sb) from

to say that something must not be done, seen, used etc

The player was banned from participating in the match after cheating

benefit from

receive an advantage; profit

I really benefited from doing more exercise

cheat at

act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage

Athletes who cheat at their sport by using banned substances should be banned

consist of

to be made up of, or composed of something

The Reading paper consists of five tasks

difference between

a way in which two or more people or things are not like each other

What's the difference between tennis and badminton?

insist on

to demand that something should happen

She insisted on including pictures in her project

participate in

to take part in an activity or event

More than 100 people participated in the fun run

prevent (sb) from

to stop something from happening, or stop someone from doing something

We were prevented from going on the trip because of bad weather

anxious

worried about something

He was a bit anxious about the safety of the machinery

anxiety

the feeling of being very worried about something

There is considerable anxiety among staff about job losses

argue

to disagree with someone in words, often in an angry way

We could hear the neighbours arguing

argument

a situation in which two or more people disagree, often angrily

She had a big argument with her husband

argumentative

someone who is argumentative often argues or likes arguing

He quickly becomes argumentative after a few drinks

arguable

not certain, or not definitely true or correct, and therefore easy to doubt

It is a highly arguable assumption

arguably

it may be argued (used to qualify the statement of an opinion or belief)

She is arguably the greatest woman tennis player of all time

compete

strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others

The stores have to compete for customers in the Christmas season

competitive

determined or trying very hard to be more successful than other people or businesses

The team seems to have lost its competitive edge recently

competition

a situation in which people or organizations try to be more successful than other people or organizations

Competition for the job was intense

develop

to design or make a new idea, product, system etc over a period of time

She should have developed her own style instead of copying him

development

the process of gradually becoming bigger, better, stronger, or more advanced

The funds will be used for marketing and product development

developer

a person or an organization that works on a new idea, product etc to make it successful

He works for the biggest software developer in the USA

developing

growing or changing

Good nutrition is very important to a developing child

developed

better, larger, or more advanced than others

Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell

fail

to not succeed in achieving something

Doctors failed to save the girl's life

failure

a lack of success in achieving or doing something 

Successful people often aren't very good at dealing with failure

long

measuring a great length from one end to the other 

We've walked a long distance today

length

the measurement of how long something is from one end to the other

We measured the length and width of the living room

lengthen

to make something longer or to become longer

Can you lengthen this skirt for me?

elongate

to become longer, or make something longer than normal

Her legs were elongated by the very high heels which she wore

swim

to move yourself through water using your arms and legs

She could swim across the lake

swimming

the sport of moving yourself through water using your arms and legs

Swimming is great exercise

swimmer

someone who swims well, often as a competitor

Peter's a very strong swimmer

winner

a person or animal that has won something

She is the winner of the Ladies' Championship

winnings

money that you have won

She collected her winnings and put them into her bag

winning

the winning person or thing is the one that wins or makes you win a competition or game

Beckham scored the winning goal