MARATHON

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Marathon mean? 

• MARATHON (noun)
  The noun MARATHON has 3 senses:

1. any long and arduous undertaking

2. a footrace of 26 miles 385 yards

3. a battle in 490 BC in which the Athenians and their allies defeated the Persians

  Familiarity information: MARATHON used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MARATHON (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any long and arduous undertaking

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

endurance contest; marathon

Hypernyms ("marathon" is a kind of...):

labor; project; task; undertaking (any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A footrace of 26 miles 385 yards

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("marathon" is a kind of...):

foot race; footrace; run (a race run on foot)

Derivation:

marathoner (someone who participates in long-distance races (especially in marathons))

Sense 3

Meaning:

A battle in 490 BC in which the Athenians and their allies defeated the Persians

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

battle of Marathon; Marathon

Instance hypernyms:

pitched battle (a fierce battle fought in close combat between troops in predetermined positions at a chosen time and place)

Domain region:

Ellas; Greece; Hellenic Republic (a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil)

 Context examples 

This was 81 seconds faster than Paula Radcliffe's mixed-sex mark set at the 2003 London Marathon.

(Kenya's Brigid Kosgei sets new world record at Chicago Marathon, Wikinews)

This is the first time any human enterprise has exceeded the distance of a marathon on the surface of another world.

(Opportunity Mars Rover Passes Marathon Distance, NASA)

This is the first time anyone has been recorded to run a full marathon of 42.195 kilometers (approximately 26 miles) under this pursued landmark time.

(Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya runs marathon under two hours, Wikinews)

The long-lived rover surpassed the marathon mark during a drive of 46.5 meters.

(Opportunity Mars Rover Passes Marathon Distance, NASA)

Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya ran a marathon in less than two hours.

(Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya runs marathon under two hours, Wikinews)

Kosgei was the Chicago Marathon defending champion.

(Kenya's Brigid Kosgei sets new world record at Chicago Marathon, Wikinews)

Brigid Kosgei of Kenya won the 2019 Chicago Marathon and broke the long-standing marathon world record for women competing in mixed-sex marathons.

(Kenya's Brigid Kosgei sets new world record at Chicago Marathon, Wikinews)