I. ˈmarəˌthän also ˈmer- sometimes -_thən noun
( -s )
Usage: sometimes capitalized
Etymology: Marathon, ancient town in east central Greece where in 490 B.C. the Greeks won a victory over the Persians of which the news was carried to Athens by a long-distance runner
1.
a. : a long-distance race:
(1) : a footrace run on an open course of now usually 26 miles 385 yards
(2) : a race other than a footrace (as for swimmers, skaters) marked by especially great length
b. : a competition in which participants vie with each other to see who can last the longest in doing something : a contest that tests the stamina and endurance of the contestants : an endurance contest
a dance marathon
a speechmaking marathon
2. : an activity that tests or demonstrates the stamina or endurance power of the performer
after a marathon of autographing some 4000 copies of the first volume of his memoirs — Time
II. adjective
also mar·a·tho·ni·an | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|thōnēən ; or mar·a·thon·ic -|thänik
Usage: sometimes capitalized
: belonging to or suggestive of or suited for a marathon race or competition or other activity:
a. : marked by unusual length of time
a marathon session of Congress
or distance
a marathon hike
or extent
a speech with a marathon opening sentence
b. : such as tests or demonstrates the stamina or endurance power of the performer
marathonic lungpower — Newsweek
besides being amused by her performance, we were stunned by the marathonian ebullience — Stanley Kauffmann
III. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to run a marathon or take part in marathon competition or activity
an exhibition of marathoning
• mar·a·thon·er -nə(r) noun -s
IV. noun
( -s )
: a strong orange that is darker than pumpkin and redder and duller than cadmium orange