olympiad
UK: əˈlɪmpiæd | US: əˈlɪmpiæd
n. a period of four years between Olympic Games, used historically to reckon time
n. a celebration or competition, especially one modeled after the ancient Olympic Games
The word "olympiad" originates from Ancient Greek, where "Olympia" referred to the sanctuary of Zeus and the site of the original Olympic Games. The suffix "-iad" denotes a period or cycle, derived from Greek "-ias." Historically, an olympiad marked the four-year interval between games, serving as a chronological unit in ancient Greece. Over time, the term expanded to describe modern events inspired by the Olympics, retaining its connection to competition and cyclical celebration.
The first recorded olympiad dates back to 776 BCE in ancient Greece.
The school hosted a science olympiad to encourage young innovators.
Historians used the olympiad system to date significant events.
She trained rigorously to compete in the international mathematics olympiad.
The winter olympiad features sports like skiing and ice hockey.