discus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical (Sports, Biology)
Quick answer
What does “discus” mean?
A heavy, flat, circular object thrown in athletic competitions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A heavy, flat, circular object thrown in athletic competitions.
A small, brightly colored, disk-shaped freshwater fish (genus Symphysodon); a flat, circular form or object more generally.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Pronunciation differs (see IPA). The fish is universally known as 'discus' in hobbyist circles.
Connotations
In both, strongly associated with Olympic track and field.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language, but standard within sports and specific hobbies.
Grammar
How to Use “discus” in a Sentence
[athlete] threw the discus [distance]He specialised in the discus.The discus landed outside the circle.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in sports science, classical studies (history of Olympics), and biology (ichthyology).
Everyday
Only in context of sports news or the Olympics.
Technical
Specific to athletics (equipment specifications, technique) and aquarium keeping (fish breeding, care).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “discus”
- Pronouncing as /daɪˈskʌs/ (like 'discuss')
- Using plural 'discuses' (correct plural is 'discuses' for sport, but 'discus' for fish is often unchanged).
- Spelling as 'discuss'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Discus' refers specifically to the sports object or the fish. 'Disc' (or 'disk') is the general term for any thin, circular object (e.g., spinal disc, compact disc).
No, 'discus' is only a noun. The verb is 'discuss' (to talk about), which is a different word.
It's pronounced DIS-kuss (/ˈdɪs.kəs/), with the stress on the first syllable, unlike the verb 'discuss' (dis-KUSS).
Rarely in modern English. While it describes a shape, it's so strongly tied to sport that 'disk', 'disc', or 'saucer' would be more natural.
A heavy, flat, circular object thrown in athletic competitions.
Discus is usually formal, technical (sports, biology) in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DISCUS rhymes with 'FOCUS' – you need to FOCUS to throw a DISCUS well.
Conceptual Metaphor
CIRCULARITY / ROTATION (the discus spins in flight); ANCIENT TRADITION (link to Greek athletics).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'discus' NOT typically used?