What's in a Name?: Name On: Pro Sports Team Names, Part 2

There may not be an “i” in team, but there are a ton of great words in professional team names! Whether or not you're a sports fan, if you learn these words your vocabulary will be in competition condition.

For more, check out Name On: Pro Sports Team Names, Part 1
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. jet
    an airplane powered by gas turbines
    Skies all over the world bore witness to four decades of successful Langley research, from passenger jets to bombers, transport planes to fighter aircraft. Hidden Figures
    New York Jets (NFL)
  2. piston
    mechanical device that has a plunging or thrusting motion
    Most modern air compression equipment uses a motor-driven piston that moves back and forth and a cylinder with flaplike inlet and discharge valves. New York Times (Jul 10, 2017)
    Detroit Pistons (NBA)
  3. spur
    a prod on a rider's heel used to urge a horse onward
    His heels were armed with spurs, and he heard every word they said. The Amber Spyglass
    San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
  4. rapid
    a part of a river where the current is very fast
    “May peace and calm descend upon your gut like a gentle mist on the gurgling river rapids.” The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge
    Colorado Rapids (MLS)
  5. timber
    the wood of trees prepared for use as building material
    Assuming wood is just as dense today, those gains would mean more timber for building, burning, and storing carbon captured from the atmosphere. Science Magazine (Aug 22, 2018)
    Portland Timbers (MLS)
  6. spark
    a momentary flash of light
    The scrape of metal against stone set off tiny sparks that flickered briefly before they disappeared. Half of a Yellow Sun
    Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
  7. hurricane
    a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds
    The weather was calm and partly sunny over the islands on Tuesday, and their inhabitants, who are accustomed to hurricane and storm warnings, were carrying on with business as usual. Reuters (Oct 1, 2019)
    Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
  8. lightning
    flash of light from an electric discharge in the atmosphere
    A stroke of lightning flashed, followed by heavy thunder. The Fighting Ground
    Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
  9. flame
    combustion of materials producing heat and light and smoke
    They caught slowly at first, then burst into a cone of bright flame. Habibi
    Calgary Flames (NHL)
  10. earthquake
    vibration from underground movement along a fault plane
    “The building whined. Inside it felt like there was an earthquake shaking the foundation, the walls, windows, and ceiling. “‘Take me down, please, James.’ Towers Falling
    San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
  11. galaxy
    a collection of star systems
    The entire underside of the dome looked like space as seen from the Hubble telescope: A dusty spiral nebula billowed up, a galaxy of stars twinkled, and meteorites whizzed across the ceiling. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
    Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
  12. heat
    sensation from energy transferred by temperature difference
    The sun was fully up now and the heat of the August day was beginning to assert itself with a blood-thickening power. The Great Santini
    Miami Heat (NBA)
  13. jazz
    genre of American music that developed in the 20th century
    Some old swing-style jazz melody with a calypso beat chortled from a jukebox in the corner. Shadowshaper
    Utah Jazz (NBA)
  14. revolution
    the overthrow of a government by those who are governed
    The French and the American revolutions both saw more or less tyrannical polities overtaken—at least on paper—by forms of representative democracy. Words Like Loaded Pistols
    New England Revolution (MLS)
  15. union
    a political unit formed from previously independent groups
    The president of the EU council, Donald Tusk, announced that the leaders of the remaining 27 states in the union and agreed to a "flextension" of up to 31 January next year. BBC (Oct 28, 2019)
    Philadelphia Union (MLS)
  16. dynamo
    a coil that rotates between the poles of an electromagnet
    Once solid, the rotating core acted as a whirling dynamo, strengthening the protective electromagnetic bubble that wrapped around Earth, staving off planet-wide devastation. Scientific American (Feb 15, 2019)
    Houston Dynamo (MLS)
  17. impact
    the striking of one body against another
    The impact knocked the bow and arrow from her hands. The Reader
    Montreal Impact (MLS)
  18. dream
    someone or something wonderful
    Her mother texts back, “You are mommy’s dream.” New York Times (Sep 24, 2019)
    Atlanta Dream (WNBA)
  19. fever
    an abnormal rise in the temperature of the body
    I touch my hand to her forehead and she burning with fever. The Help
    Indiana Fever (WNBA)
  20. liberty
    immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority
    Tuesday was Constitution Day, when we honor that document as the foundation of our nation and our liberty. Washington Times (Sep 17, 2019)
    New York Liberty (WNBA)
Created on Wed Oct 23 17:56:10 EDT 2019 (updated Sun Dec 15 11:16:31 EST 2019)

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