rugby Meaning & Definition
What Does Rugby Mean?
Rugby is used as a noun meaning A form of football in which players can hold or kick an ovoid ball; rugby football. The ball cannot be handled forwards and points are scored by touching the ball to the ground in the area past the opponent's territory or by kicking the ball between goalposts and over a crossbar. It can also mean The form of the game known as rugby union (see the usage note). As a verb, it means To play rugby.
Rugby at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹʌɡbi/ |
| Synonyms | rugger and rugby football |
| Plural | rugbies |
| Verb forms | rugbies, rugbying, rugbied |
Rugby Definition (Noun)
- A form of football in which players can hold or kick an ovoid ball; rugby football. The ball cannot be handled forwards and points are scored by touching the ball to the ground in the area past the opponent's territory or by kicking the ball between goalposts and over a crossbar.
The scrum is a distinctive element of rugby.
- The form of the game known as rugby union (see the usage note).
- Ellipsis of rugby shirt (“a shirt of the kind worn by rugby players, usually short-sleeved and with a buttoned opening at the neck like a polo shirt, but with a stiffer collar”).
Rugby as a Verb
- To play rugby.
Noun
- Rubber cement, contact cement; commonly associated with solvent abuse, as it is often used as an inhalant.
Noun
- (usually uncountable) A form of football in which players can hold or kick an ovoid ball. The ball cannot be handled forwards and points are scored by touching the ball to the ground in the area past their opponent’s territory or kicking the ball between goalposts and over a crossbar.
The scrum is a distinctive element of rugby.
- A loose fitting shirt with a collar, as worn by rugby players.
Noun
- Rubber cement, contact cement.
Synonyms of Rugby
Rugby synonyms and antonyms →Rugby in a Sentence
The scrum is a distinctive element of rugby.
The two rugbies split following a debate about amateurism.
Word Forms & Grammar
rugby (countable and uncountable, plural rugbies)
rugby (third-person singular simple present rugbies, present participle rugbying, simple past and past participle rugbied)
rugby (plural rugbys)
Words That Rhyme With Rugby
Origin of Rugby
Origin 1: From the name of Rugby School in Rugby, in Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom, where the modern game was developed in the 19th century.[1] The place name Rugby is attested in the Domesday Book as Old English Rocheberie (probably equivalent to rook (“Corvus frugilegus, a bird of the crow family”) + -by (suffix indicating a village or town)), possibly from *Hrōcebyriġ, dative singular of *Hrōceburh, from hrōc (“rook”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ker- (“to crow”)) + burh, burg (“castle, fort, stronghold; city; town”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“hill, mountain; high, lofty; to rise”)).
Origin 2: Genericized trademark from Rugby, a brand of rubber cement by Bostik.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rugby
Is rugby a noun or a verb?
Rugby is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for rugby?
You can replace rugby with words such as rugger and rugby football. See the full list of rugby synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of rugby?
The plural of rugby is rugbies.
What is the past tense of rugby?
The past tense of rugby is rugbied. The present participle is rugbying.