noun
regatta
rih-GAT-uh/rɪˈɡætə/
A sporting event featuring a series of boat races.
The sailors compete in the regatta on a course marked by buoys.
Etymology
Venetian regatta meant ‘contention for mastery’ and named a race among gondoliers. It came to denote boat-racing events more generally; the related verb rigattare, ‘compete, haggle,’ has an uncertain origin.
In context
one of the things we picked up last week during the tune-up regatta is we figured on out the lay of the land
More examples
- Sailboats gather in the harbor before the regatta begins.
- Strong winds delay the final race of the regatta.
- Our rowing club hosts two regattas each summer.
Forms
regatta · regattas
Similar words
- race
- Usually names one contest rather than a series of races.
- competition
- Covers contests in any activity, not specifically boat racing.