Marathon Definition

mărə-thŏn

marathons

noun

marathons

A footrace of 26 miles, 385 yards, run over an open course, esp. as an event of the Olympic games or as an annual event in some cities.

Webster's New World

A long-distance race other than a footrace.

A swimming marathon.

American Heritage

Any contest or endeavor that tests endurance.

Webster's New World

An event or activity that requires prolonged effort, endurance, or attention.

American Heritage

(figuratively, by extension) Any extended or sustained activity.

He had a cleaning marathon the night before his girlfriend came over.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

pronoun

A town in Attica, Greece, the site of the victory in 490 BC of heavily outnumbered Athenians against Persians.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Marathon

Singular:

marathon

Plural:

marathons

French marathon, coined in 1894 by linguist Michel Bréal for the first modern time Olympic Games after Greek Μαραθών (Marathōn), a town northeast of Athens. Phidippides the Greek ran the distance from Marathon to Athens to deliver a message regarding the Battle of Marathon. The modern sport of marathon running is based on a run approximately the same distance. The toponym itself comes from μάραθον (marathon, “fennel") and refers to the prevalence of the plant in the area.

From Wiktionary
After Marathon (so called because a messenger ran from there to Athens to announce a victory over the Persians in 490 bc)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Ancient Greek Μαραθών (Marathōn).

From Wiktionary