nike
nike — noun
1. in ancient Greek stories, a female god who brought victory in war and athletic c
1.noun
Definition
in ancient Greek stories, a female god who brought victory in war and athletic contests, and was often shown with large wings
Example
Theo learned about Nike, the goddess of victory, in his history class.
proper noun: Greek deity name
Before the marathon, Leila whispered a prayer to Nike for strength.
Tourists climbed the steps to the Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis.
collocation: Temple of Athena Nike
A marble statue of Nike with broken wings stands in the museum gallery.
Common collocations
- goddess of victory
- Temple of Athena Nike
- statue of Nike
- wings of Nike
Usage Note
Always capitalised as a name. Not to be confused with the sportswear brand Nike, which borrowed the name but refers to a company.
Common Mistakes
She bought new running shoes from the goddess Nike.
She bought new running shoes from the Nike brand.
the goddess and the sportswear company are separate things, though the brand's name comes from the goddess.
Etymology
Ancient GreekEnglish
From ancient Greek Νίκη (Nike), meaning 'victory'. The goddess's name was later borrowed for the well-known sportswear brand.