running broad jump
LowHistorical/Technical (Sport)
Definition
Meaning
An athletic field event in which a person runs up to a take-off line and then jumps forward for distance from a one-foot take-off.
A term historically used in athletics for what is now more commonly called the 'long jump', involving a running approach and a horizontal leap.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Now largely an archaic term, superseded by 'long jump'. Primarily used in historical contexts or in older rulebooks. The phrase literally describes the action: a 'broad' (i.e., wide/horizontal) jump performed with a running start.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In modern usage, both varieties use 'long jump'. 'Running broad jump' is an older term, but its historical use was likely more prevalent in American English (e.g., in older US military fitness tests or school athletics). The British equivalent was historically simply 'broad jump' or the now-standard 'long jump'.
Connotations
Connotes vintage or historical sporting events, old-fashioned physical education tests, or early 20th-century Olympic terminology.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage. Almost entirely confined to historical documents, discussions of athletic history, or recalling past physical fitness standards.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to do/perform/attempt a/the running broad jumpThe running broad jump was an event.He excelled at the running broad jump.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical analyses of sports or physical education.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
May appear in historical athletic rulebooks or discussions of the evolution of track and field events.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The running broad jump event has been discontinued.
- He held a vintage running broad jump record.
American English
- The running broad jump test was part of the old fitness exam.
- They studied the running broad jump technique from 1920s manuals.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The running broad jump is not a common sport today.
- In the past, athletes did the running broad jump.
- Before it was called the long jump, the event was often known as the running broad jump in many competitions.
- His grandfather's medal was for winning the running broad jump in the 1948 interscholastic meet.
- The evolution of the long jump, from its earlier incarnation as the running broad jump, reflects changes in athletic technique and measurement precision.
- Analysing early Olympic footage, one can see the running broad jump employed a similar basic approach to the modern event, albeit with less refined landing techniques.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it as the old-fashioned name for the LONG jump: you RUN, then make a BROAD (wide) JUMP.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS FORWARD MOTION (a measured leap forward).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid a direct calque like *'бегущий широкий прыжок'.
- The correct modern translation is 'прыжок в длину (с разбега)'.
- The word 'broad' here relates to distance/width, not the jumper's posture.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a current term instead of 'long jump'.
- Confusing it with the 'triple jump' or 'standing broad jump'.
- Incorrectly hyphenating as 'running-broad-jump'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'running broad jump' most likely be used today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, essentially. 'Running broad jump' is the historical and now largely obsolete term for the athletic event currently known as the 'long jump'.
The word 'broad' here means 'wide' or 'covering a large horizontal distance', distinguishing it from a 'high' (vertical) jump.
No. The official and universally used term in modern track and field is 'long jump'. 'Running broad jump' is only of historical interest.
A 'running broad jump' (long jump) uses a running approach for momentum. A 'standing broad jump' (or standing long jump) is performed from a stationary start with both feet together, requiring a two-footed take-off and landing.