Definitions

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

  • noun The act or skill of swimming.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The art or act of swimming.

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

  • noun The act of floating on the water; swimming.

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

  • noun The act or process of swimming

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

  • noun the act of someone who floats on the water

Etymologies

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

[Latin natātiō, natātiōn-, from natātus, past participle of natāre, frequentative of nāre, to swim; see snā- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin natatio

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Examples

  • Je me rappelle avoir eu exactement la même sensation après un cours J+S de natation… c'était il y a plus de dix ans… mais je m'en rappelle comme si c'était hier.

    Retour de cours de formation J+S judo — Climb to the Stars 2005

  • Outdoor: garden and fieldwork, cycling on level macadamised causeways ascents of moderately high hills, natation in secluded fresh water and unmolested river boating in secure wherry or light curricle with kedge anchor on reaches free from weirs and rapids

    Ulysses 2003

  • “A poor country for the land-owners!” said Joe, once more vigorously resorting to his skill in the art of natation.

    Five Weeks in a Balloon 2003

  • It was an unfavourable time of the year for such an unprecedented feat of natation, but the Hatfield Champion was confident of success.

    Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, August 8, 1891 Various

  • Now, as natation is generally effected by repeated and vigorous lateral flexions of the body, we ought to find the segmentation much more complete laterally than on the dorsal and ventral aspects of the spinal column.

    On the Genesis of Species St. George Mivart

  • The lads dived deep, swimming the while with long, powerful strokes, for both were accomplished in the art of natation.

    The Submarine Hunters A Story of the Naval Patrol Work in the Great War Edward S. [Illustrator] Hodgson 1917

  • Outdoor: garden and fieldwork, cycling on level macadamised causeways ascents of moderately high hills, natation in secluded fresh water and unmolested river boating in secure wherry or light curricle with kedge anchor on reaches free from weirs and rapids (period of estivation), vespertinal perambulation or equestrian circumprocession with inspection of sterile landscape and contrastingly agreeable cottagers 'fires of smoking peat turves (period of hibernation).

    Ulysses James Joyce 1911

  • The bay at Skelwick was so dangerous that Father would not allow any of them to bathe there, so as yet she had had no chance of testing her skill in natation.

    The Youngest Girl in the Fifth A School Story Angela Brazil 1907

  • But, even as many sailors cannot swim a stroke, so many an inlander, born and brought up within sight of fresh water, has never taken the trouble to grasp the simplest rudiments of natation.

    Further Adventures of Lad Albert Payson Terhune 1907

  • The last thing that Bill heard, ere sleep closed his lids, was a pious resolution on the part of Mr. Bliss to the effect that all his children should be taught the art of natation as soon as they were born.

    Light Freights 1903

Comments

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  • "the art of swimming or of supporting the body, towards the surface of the water, so as to float, and advance by the means of a combined and regular action of the hands and feet. The brute creation swim without any previous instruction; but man has to learn the art. Great advantages are derived from a knowledge of this art, when it becomes necessary that a corps should pass a river and have neither bridge nor boats, on which they can cross. In the French army, there were whole regiments of horse and foot which could pass a river in complete order of battle." (citation in list description)

    October 9, 2008