1. n. & v.
--n.
1. a collection of people, countries, groups, etc., combining for a particular purpose, esp. mutual protection or cooperation.
2 an agreement to combine in this way.
3 a group of sports clubs which compete over a period for a championship.
4 a class of contestants.
--v.intr. (leagues, leagued, leaguing) (often foll. by together) join in a league.
Phrases and idioms:
in league allied, conspiring. league football Austral. Rugby League or Australian Rules football played in leagues. league table
1. a listing of competitors as a league, showing their ranking according to performance.
2 any list of ranking order.
Etymology: F ligue or It. liga, var. of lega f. legare bind f. L ligare 2. n. archaic a varying measure of travelling-distance by land, usu. about three miles.
Etymology: ME, ult. f. LL leuga, leuca, of Gaulish orig.