Tennis

Definition

Tennis is a racket sport played between two players (singles) or two teams of two players each (doubles), where players use rackets to hit a ball over a net into the opponent’s court to score points.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈtɛn.ɪs/
• Respelling: TEN-iss

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈtɛn.ɪs/
• Respelling: TEN-iss

Etymology

The word "tennis" originates from the Old French "tenez," meaning "take, receive," which was a call from the server to their opponent in the game of real tennis. The term was adopted into Middle English in the 14th century, evolving to describe the modern sport in the 19th century.

Derivatives

• Tennist (noun, rare)
• Tennis-like (adjective)
• Tennis court (noun)
• Tennis racket (noun)
• Tennis ball (noun)

Synonyms

• Racket sport
• Court game
• None

Antonyms

• None

Usage

The noun "tennis" is used to describe the sport and its activities. For example, "She plays tennis every weekend to stay fit."

Related Terms

• Racket: An instrument used to strike the ball in tennis.
• Serve: The action of starting a point by hitting the ball over the net.
• Volley: A stroke in tennis where the ball is hit before it bounces.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A sport played with rackets and a ball: Players aim to hit the ball over the net into the opponent's court.
  • Example: "The Wimbledon championship is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments."
• A game played on a rectangular court: Refers to the match itself, following established rules and scoring systems.
  • Example: "The two players engaged in an intense game of tennis."