Derby

¹

[dur-bee, dahr-bee]

noun

1. a city in Derbyshire in central England.

2. Derbyshire.

3. a city in S Connecticut.

Derby

²

[dur-bee, dahr-bee]

noun

plural

Derbies 

1. a race for three-year-old horses that is run annually at Epsom Downs, near London, England: first run in 1780.

2. any of certain other important annual horse races, usually for three-year-old horses, especially the Kentucky Derby.

3. (lowercase),  a race or contest, usually one open to all who wish to enter and offering a prize for the winner.

4. (lowercase),  any endeavor or venture regarded as a competition.

   to win the gubernatorial derby.

5. Also called bowler. (lowercase),  a stiff felt hat with rounded crown and narrow brim, worn chiefly by men.

Derby

¹

/ ˈdɑːbɪ /

noun

1. a city in central England, in Derby unitary authority, Derbyshire: engineering industries (esp aircraft engines and railway rolling stock); university (1991). Pop: 229 407 (2001)

2. a unitary authority in central England, in Derbyshire. Pop: 233 200 (2003 est). Area: 78 sq km (30 sq miles)

3. a firm-textured pale-coloured type of cheese

4. a green-and-white Derby cheese flavoured with sage

Derby

²

/ ˈdɜːrbɪ, ˈdɑːbɪ /

noun

1. an annual horse race run at Epsom Downs, Surrey, since 1780: one of the English flat-racing classics

2. any of various other horse races

3. a football match between two teams from the same area

Derby

³

/ ˈdɑːbɪ /

noun

1. Earl of. title of Edward George Geoffrey Smith Stanley. 1799–1869, British statesman; Conservative prime minister (1852; 1858–59; 1866–68)

derby

⁴

/ ˈdɜːrbɪ /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): bowler. a stiff felt hat with a rounded crown and narrow curved brim

Word History and Origins

Origin of Derby¹

First recorded in 1830–40; after Edward Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby (died 1834), who instituted the race

Word History and Origins

Origin of Derby¹

C18: named after the twelfth Earl of Derby (died 1834), who founded the horse race at Epsom Downs in 1780

Example Sentences

When Swift, coming off the highest-grossing tour in history, applies this approach, it’s akin to watching Cal Raleigh in a home-run derby; the result is a foregone conclusion.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Arsenal face north London rivals Tottenham immediately after next month's international break, and it remains to be seen whether Odegaard can recover in time for the derby on 23 November.

Read more on BBC

Barcelona have big fixtures to come before the next round of international matches, including a derby against Girona, Champions League games against Olympiacos and Club Brugge, and the Clasico against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

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The gritty keeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final defeat by India briefly halted the run of success.

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The influential Gold Derby predictions website now has it as the favourite for the best animated film, ahead of Zootopia 2 and Elio.

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