league W2 /liːɡ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Sense 1-5: Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: ligue 'agreement to act together' , from Old Italian liga , from ligare 'to tie' ]
[ Sense 6: Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: leuga ]
1 . a group of sports teams or players who play games against each other to see who is best:
He makes his football league debut tomorrow.
the Rugby League Championship
be (at the) top/bottom of the league (=be the best or the worst team in a group)
2 . a group of people or countries who have joined together because they have similar aims, political beliefs etc:
the National Socialist League
3 . not be in the same league (as somebody/something) to be not nearly as good or important as someone or something else:
They’re not in the same league as the French at making wine.
4 . be in a different league to be much better than someone or something else:
For most of the match, Brazil were in a different league, and won 4–0.
5 . be out of your league to not be skilled or experienced enough to do or deal with something
6 . be in league (with somebody) to be working with someone secretly, especially for a bad purpose:
Vernon was accused by his enemies of being in league with the devil.
7 . an ancient unit for measuring distance, equal to three miles or about 4,828 metres on land, and three ↑ nautical mile s or 5,556 metres at sea