n.
Pronunciation: ə - ' lim-p ē - ˌ ad, ō -
Function: noun
Usage: often cap
Etymology: Middle English Olympias, from Latin Olympiad-, Olympias, from Greek, from Olympia, site of ancient Olympic Games
Date: 14th century
1 : one of the 4-year intervals between Olympic Games by which time was reckoned in ancient Greece
2 : a quadrennial celebration of the modern Olympic Games also : a competition or series of competitions resembling an olympiad especially in variety or challenge <the mathematics olympiad >