Olympiad

• Ol. (abbreviation), olympiad

From Old French olimpiade (“period of four years”), from Latin Olympias, from Ancient Greek Ὀλυμπιάς (Olumpiás).

• IPA^(key): /əˈlɪmpiæd/

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Olympiad (plural Olympiads)

1. (historical) A period of four years, by which the ancient Greeks reckoned time, being the interval from one celebration of the Olympic games to another, beginning with the victory of Corbus in the foot race, which took place in the year 776 BC; as, the era of the olympiads.
2. An occurrence of the Olympic games.
3. A competition or series of competitions resembling an Olympiad, especially in science.

• (instance of the games): Olympics, Olympic Games, Games of the Olympiad

• Paralympiad