marathon

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: mar=a=thon

CIDE DICTIONARY

marathon, n. 

•  A footrace of 26 miles 385 yards.  [WordNet 1.5]
•  Any long and arduous undertaking, straining the endurance of the participants.  [WordNet 1.5]
•  a battle in 490 BC in which the Athenians and their allies defeated the Persians.  [WordNet 1.5]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

marathon, n.
1 a long-distance running race, usu. of 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km).
2 a long-lasting or difficult task, operation, etc. (often attrib.: a marathon shopping expedition).

Derivative

marathoner n.

Etymology

Marathon in Greece, scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 BC: a messenger was said to have run to Athens with the news, but the account has no authority

THESAURUS

marathon

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