Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An athletic contest consisting of ten track and field events: the 100-meter, 400-meter, and 1,500-meter runs; the 110-meter high hurdles; the discus and javelin throws; the shot put; the pole vault; the high jump; and the long jump. Participation in the decathlon is traditionally limited to men.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun In the modern Olympic Games, a composite contest consisting of a 100-meter run, a broad jump, putting the shot, a running high-jump, a 400-meter run, throwing the discus, a 100-meter hurdle race, pole vaulting, throwing the javelin, and a 1500-meter run.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun an athletic contest consisting of ten events which includes sprinting, hurdling, jumping, and throwing over a span of two days
  • noun a contest in science and math proving skill

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an athletic contest consisting of ten different events

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[deca– + (penta)thlon.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the Greek stem dec meaning ten

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Examples

  • But, after all, the solar decathlon is not only about getting energy from the sun, it is also about finding ways to conserve and reduce the energy required by the residence.

    SOLAR DECATHLON 2007: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid | Inhabitat 2007

  • ÂTeams compete in 10 areas (that's why it's called a decathlon): Architecture, Market Appeal, Engineering, Communications, Affordability, Comfort Zone, Hot Water, Appliances, Home Entertainment, Energy Balance (Go to DOE's awesome competition page to learn more).

    Susanna Murley: Who Will Win the 2011 Solar Decathlon? Susanna Murley 2011

  • Teams compete in 10 areas (that's why it's called a decathlon): Architecture, Market Appeal, Engineering, Communications, Affordability, Comfort Zone, Hot Water, Appliances, Home Entertainment, Energy Balance (Go to DOE's awesome competition page to learn more).

    Susanna Murley: Who Will Win the 2011 Solar Decathlon? Susanna Murley 2011

  • Bryan Clay celebrates becoming the second American gold medalist in decathlon.

    USA's Bryan Clay breaks through for decathlon gold 2008

  • Daley Thompson called the decathlon the ultimate test of stamina.

    Sunshine in Brighton 2007

  • I doubt McConaughey was training for a 'decathlon'.

    Hard Times: Valuating the Cultural Currency of Cycling BikeSnobNYC 2008

  • In Dr. Vaillant's "decathlon" of mental health-10 measures, taken at various points between ages 18 and 80, including personality stability at ages 21 and 29, and social supports at 70-you have ranked in the top 10 of the Grant Study men the entire way through, one of only three men to have done so.

    Adrian Monck 2009

  • In Dr. Vaillant's "decathlon" of mental health-10 measures, taken at various points between ages 18 and 80, including personality stability at ages 21 and 29, and social supports at 70-you have ranked in the top 10 of the Grant Study men the entire way through, one of only three men to have done so.

    Adrian Monck 2009

  • Editor's Note: Don't forget about Daley Thompson, the two-time decathlon gold medal winner.

    Len Berman: Top 5 Sports Stories Len Berman 2011

  • Editor's Note: Don't forget about Daley Thompson, the two-time decathlon gold medal winner.

    Len Berman: Top 5 Sports Stories Len Berman 2011

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