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n. 1. a. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively. b. often sports (used with a sing. verb) Such activities considered as a group: Sports is a good way for children to get exercise. 2. a. A usually challenging activity undertaken for amusement: "the sport of trying to eat [a bratwurst] with anything fewer than four paper napkins" (Jane Kramer). b. Fun; amusement: balanced on the curb just for the sport of it. 3. a. Mockery; jest: He made sport of his own looks. b. An object of mockery, jest, or play: treated our interests as sport. c. A joking mood or attitude: She made the remark in sport. 4. a. One known for the manner of one's acceptance of rules, especially of a game, or of a difficult situation: a poor sport. b. Informal A fair-minded person, especially one who accepts teasing or difficult situations well: Be a sport and show me where you caught those fish. c. Informal A pleasant companion: was a real sport during the trip. 5. Informal a. A person who lives a jolly, extravagant life. b. A gambler at sporting events. 6. Biology An organism or a part of an organism that shows a marked change from the parent type, typically as a result of mutation. 7. Obsolete Amorous dalliance; lovemaking. v. sport·ed, sport·ing, sports v.intr. 1. To play or frolic: children sporting in the waves. v.tr. 1. To wear or have on one's body, especially prominently or ostentatiously: sports diamond earrings; sports a tattoo. 2. To have as a prominent feature: a car sporting a new paint job. adj. or sports 1. Of, relating to, or appropriate for sports: sport fishing; sports equipment. 2. Designed or appropriate for outdoor or informal wear: a sport shirt. [Middle English sporte, short for disporte, from Old French desport, pleasure, from desporter, to divert; see DISPORT.] sportful adj. sportful·ly adv. sportful·ness n. |
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