marathon
|mar/a/thon|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈmærəˌθɑn/
🇬🇧
/ˈmærəθən/
endurance race
Etymology
Etymology Information
'marathon' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'Marathōn,' where 'Marathōn' was a place in Greece.
Historical Evolution
'Marathōn' referred to the site of a battle in 490 BC, and the modern English word 'marathon' evolved to describe the long-distance race commemorating the run of a messenger from Marathon to Athens.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to the location of a battle, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a long-distance race.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a long-distance running race, traditionally 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers).
She trained for months to run the marathon.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45