leagues
Units of distance
Leagues is the plural of league, a word with two distinct origins.
One league is a unit of distance, roughly three miles, now archaic except in literary contexts: Twenty thousand leagues under the sea.
The other league is an alliance or association—sports teams form leagues, nations join leagues, people in league with each other are collaborating, often secretly.
To be out of someone's league is to be beyond their reach, whether in dating, competition, or ability: She's way out of my league.
Understands or depth units
- nauticalOf ships and sailing
- depthsLowest or innermost regions
- underwaterBelow the surface
- oceanicOf the sea
sea · voyage · seafaring · sailors · Nemo · Verne · submarine · abyss
Organized cooperative groups
- championshipCompetition for top rank
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
- seasonYearly division or series
- playoffsChampionship elimination series
standings · division · conference · premier · major · minor · franchise · roster
Temporary alliance for action
- federationUnion of semi-autonomous states
- confederationAutonomous entities united loosely
- pactFormal agreement between parties
- blocAllied group sharing interests
syndicate · consortium · entente · axis · compact · concordat · nations · Hanseatic
fathoms
Understands or depth units
- nauticalOf ships and sailing
- depthsLowest or innermost regions
- underwaterBelow the surface
oceanic · sea · voyage · seafaring · sailors · Nemo · Verne · submarine · abyss · journey
teams
Organized cooperative groups
- championshipCompetition for top rank
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
- seasonYearly division or series
playoffs · standings · division · conference · premier · major · minor · franchise · roster · draft
coalition
Temporary alliance for action
- federationUnion of semi-autonomous states
- confederationAutonomous entities united loosely
- pactFormal agreement between parties
bloc · syndicate · consortium · entente · axis · compact · concordat · nations · Hanseatic · Arab
- rankingsrankings, first, college rankings, second, third
- sports organizationsNCAA, athletic clubs, NFL, sports federations, NBA
- esportstournament, esports, ESL, MLG, championship
- international lawinternational law, treaty, treaties, conventions, protocols
- recreation managementrecreation centers, community programs, public recreation, park services, event planning
- sports clubsmembership fees, clubhouse, dues, annual fees, members
leaguesindividuals
Separate, distinct people
independents · free agents · lone wolves · pickup games · freelancers
leaguesdivides
Separates into parts
divisions · disunion · factions · schisms · separations
leaguesinches
Small length units
feet · yards · steps · hairbreadths · millimeters
- big leaguesTop professional level
- major leagueHighest competitive tier
- minor leagueLower-tier professional sports
- junior leaguesYouth sports organizations
- bush leagueAmateurish and unprofessional
- Ivy LeagueElite university athletic conference