Backstroke is a swimming stroke that involves swimming on your back while moving your arms and legs in a coordinated manner. It is one of the four major swimming strokes, along with freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of backstroke, its origin, and its associations.
Definitions
Backstroke can be defined as a swimming stroke in which the swimmer lies on their back and moves their arms and legs in a coordinated manner to propel themselves through the water. It is also known as the back crawl.
Origin
The backstroke has been around for centuries, with depictions of swimmers using the stroke found in ancient Egyptian and Greek art. However, it was not until the 1900s that the backstroke became an officially recognized swimming stroke.
Meaning in different dictionaries
The meaning of backstroke is generally consistent among different dictionaries. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines backstroke as “a swimming stroke executed on the back and usually consisting of alternating circular arm pulls and a flutter kick.”
Associations
Backstroke is often associated with competitive swimming, as it is one of the four major swimming strokes used in competitions. It is also a popular stroke for recreational swimmers, as it allows them to swim while keeping their face out of the water.
Synonyms
Backstroke is also known as the back crawl, as the swimmer moves their arms and legs in a similar manner to the crawl stroke used in freestyle swimming.
Antonyms
The antonym of backstroke would be any of the other three major swimming strokes: freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly.
The same root words
Backstroke does not have any obvious root words, as it is a compound word made up of “back” and “stroke.”
Example Sentences
- She swam the backstroke faster than any of her competitors.
- He had trouble with the backstroke because he kept lifting his head out of the water.
- The swim coach taught the backstroke to the beginners first, as it is the easiest stroke to learn.