athlete

From Middle English athlete, from Latin āthlēta (and probably also partly from Middle French athlete), from Ancient Greek ἀθλητής (athlētḗs), from ἀθλέω (athléō, “compete for a prize”), from ἆθλον (âthlon, “prize”) or ἆθλος (âthlos, “competition”).^[1]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈæθ.liːt/
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈæθ.lit/
• IPA^(key): (proscribed, anaptyctic) /ˈæθ.ə.liːt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

athlete (plural athletes)

1. A participant in any of a group of sporting activities including track and field, road running, cross country running and racewalking.
2. (US, Canada) A person who actively participates in physical sports, especially with great skill; a sportsperson.

   She's the first athlete in her sport to obtain a corporate sponsor.

   • 2013 March, David S. Senchina, “Athletics and Herbal Supplements”, in American Scientist‎^[1], volume 101, number 2, archived from the original on 16 May 2013, page 134:

     Athletes' use of herbal supplements has skyrocketed in the past two decades. At the top of the list of popular herbs are echinacea and ginseng, whereas garlic, St. John's wort, soybean, ephedra and others are also surging in popularity or have been historically prevalent.

3. An exceptionally physically fit person.

• sportsperson

• elateth