gymnastics

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring physical strength, flexibility, and kinesthetic awareness.

   Gymnastics was a significant part of the physical education curriculum.

2. 2
   noun

   Complex intellectual or artistic exercises or feats of physical agility.

   His mental gymnastics are legendary.

3. 3
   noun

   a sport that involves exercises intended to display strength and balance and agility

Etymology

From gymnastic: see -ics; from Latin gymnasticus, from Ancient Greek γυμναστικός (gumnastikós), from γυμναστής (gumnastḗs, “athlete, gymnast”), from γῠμνᾰ́ζω (gŭmnắzō, “to train, exercise”), from γυμνός (gumnós, “naked”), because Greek athletes trained naked. By surface analysis, gymnast + -ics.