balance beam

balance beam
1. a narrow wooden rail about 16 ft. (5 m) long and 4 in. (10 cm) wide, set horizontally on upright posts about 4 ft. (1.2 m) from the floor, used for performing feats of balancing and demonstrating gymnastic ability.
2. a competitive gymnastic event for women in which such an apparatus is used.
[1945-50]

* * *

  gymnastics apparatus used in women's competition. It is a wooden beam 5 metres (16.4 feet) long, 10 cm (4 inches) wide, and raised 125 cm (4.1 feet) from the floor. The performer begins the exercise by mounting the beam by either a vault or a jump and executes movements that must include steps, running, jumps, turns, sitting positions, and some held, or posed, positions. The duration of the exercise is 70 to 90 seconds. Women were first awarded individual Olympic (Olympic Games) medals in the event at the 1952 Games.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • balance beam — n. Gym. 1. a long, narrow, horizontal wooden beam raised about 4 feet (1.2 m) above the floor, on which women gymnasts perform balancing routines consisting of jumps, tumbles, turns, running steps, etc. 2. an event in which such routines are… …   English World dictionary

  • balance beam — balance .beam n a long narrow wooden board on which a ↑gymnast performs …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Balance beam — The balance beam is an artistic gymnastics apparatus, as well as the event performed using the apparatus. Both the apparatus and the event are sometimes referred to as simply beam . The English abbreviation for the event in gymnastics scoring is… …   Wikipedia

  • balance beam — noun a gymnastic apparatus used by women gymnasts • Syn: ↑beam • Hypernyms: ↑gymnastic apparatus, ↑exerciser * * * noun, pl ⋯ beams [count] : a thick bar of wood raised above the floor that is used in gymnastics for displays of balance * * *… …   Useful english dictionary

  • balance beam — noun Date: circa 1949 1. a narrow wooden beam supported in a horizontal position approximately four feet above the floor and used for balancing feats in gymnastics 2. an event in gymnastics competition in which the balance beam is used …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • balance beam — n. gymnastic wooden bar on legs on which women gymnasts stand and perform balancing exercises; event involving balance beam exercises …   English contemporary dictionary

  • balance beam — noun a) A narrow wooden rail used in gymnastics. b) The horizontal member of any balance (scale,) usually carrying pans at each end, supported at its center by a fulcrum …   Wiktionary

  • balance beam — bal′ance beam n. 1) spo a narrow wooden rail set horizontally on upright posts about 4 ft. (1.2 m) from the floor, used for performing feats of balancing and demonstrating gymnastic ability 2) spog a gymnastic event for women in which such an… …   From formal English to slang

  • balance beam — noun (C) a long narrow wooden board on which a gymnast performs …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Women's balance beam — Infobox Olympic event event = Women s balance beam games = 2008 Summer caption = venue = Beijing National Indoor Stadium dates = August 19 competitors = TBD nations = TBD gold = Shawn Johnson goldNOC = USA silver = Nastia Liukin silverNOC = USA… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”