The Derby is the name of a race for three-year-old horses that takes place each year. In Britain, it refers to a race that takes place in Epsom. In the United States, it refers particularly to the Kentucky Derby.
2. countable noun
A derby is a sporting event involving teams from the same area or city.
[British]
...a North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham.
3. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
A derby is a sports competition or race where there are no restrictions or limits on who can enter.
[US]
He caught a 6.28-pound salmon in the annual fishing derby.
Synonyms: competition, event, championship, tournament More Synonyms of derby
4. countable noun
A derby is a round, hard hat with a narrow brim which is worn by men. Derbies are no longer very common.
[US]regional note: in BRIT, usually use bowler hat
derby in British English
(ˈdɜːrbɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-bies
US and Canadian
a stiff felt hat with a rounded crown and narrow curved brim
Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): bowler
Derby in British English1
(ˈdɑːbɪ, US English ˈdɜːrbɪ)
noun
1. the Derby
2.
any of various other horse races
3. local Derby
Word origin
C18: named after the twelfth Earl of Derby (died 1834), who founded the horse race at Epsom Downs in 1780
Derby in British English2
(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. sage Derby
Derby in British English3
(ˈdɑːbɪ)
noun
Earl of. title of Edward George Geoffrey Smith Stanley. 1799–1869, British statesman; Conservative prime minister (1852; 1858–59; 1866–68)
Derby in American English1
(ˈdɜrbi; Chiefly British ˈdɑrbi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈDerbies
1.
a race for three-year-old horses, run annually at Epsom Downs in Surrey
2.
any similar horse race; esp., the Kentucky Derby
3. US; [d-]
any of various contests or races, open to anyone who wishes to enter
a fishing derby, demolition derby
4. US; [d-]
a stiff felt hat with a round crown and curved brim; bowler
Derby in American English2
(ˈdɜrbi; Chiefly British ˈdɑrbi)
1.
city in Derbyshire, central England: county district pop. 219,000
2.
Derbyshire
Examples of 'derby' in a sentence
derby
Neither of the pair have made a squad since the derby defeat.
The Sun (2016)
Games like this mean a lot and it doesn't come bigger than a derby.
The Sun (2016)
This is the local derby, played out on a worldwide stage, with hardly any local players.
The Sun (2016)
In 16 local derbies while he was on the playing staff, he was on the winning side just once.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Terriers went into this 77th derby clash top of the table on the back of four wins and a draw in their opening five league games.
The Sun (2016)
THEY love their local heroes in Merseyside derbies - and they have been waiting long enough for one in a blue shirt.
The Sun (2016)
Defender must stand strong for derby clash.
The Sun (2009)
After a big derby win the fans are happy and the players are happy.
The Sun (2008)
We had a good affinity with them because it was nearly a local derby.
The Sun (2015)
That is vital in the local derby.
The Sun (2012)
We showed this in the first derby when we deserved to win and lost.
The Sun (2013)
It was my first derby and just a ridiculous game.
The Sun (2011)
It makes our derbies bigger and better and we all want to see full houses for these games.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But it is a big derby.
The Sun (2009)
They were well worth their victory in this Merseyside derby and deserve huge credit.
The Sun (2010)
That 6-1 derby victory had the fans giddy.
The Sun (2011)
No one was questioning those methods after Sunday and that incredible derby victory.
The Sun (2011)
It's a local derby and we want to win.
The Sun (2012)
This derby pits the biggest spenders in Germany against the smallest.
The Sun (2015)
And they go into the Yorkshire derby clash with only one defeat in their last eight league games.
The Sun (2012)
WOLVES can make it eight wins in a row with a derby victory.
The Sun (2008)
The peak of his Italian career was that derby victory and he only scored another two goals all season.
John Foot Calcio: A History of Italian Football (2006)
They have players back from injury and are good enough to claim a sixth draw from the last nine Merseyside derbies.
The Sun (2010)
The derby clash clash came on a stunningly hot day and six goals were scored in a frenetic first 45 minutes.
The Sun (2010)
After so many years when victory for Arsenal had become a formality there is a real edge about this derby clash.
The Sun (2006)
City confident after derby win.
The Sun (2013)
I went to my first Merseyside derby last season.
The Sun (2012)
After this one-sided derby defeat, they are all but doomed to relegation.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In Merseyside derby matches, such contributions are often lauded as enthusiastically as goals.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some City fans may not want to see him with the memories of last weekend's derby defeat still fresh in their minds.
The Sun (2012)
Word lists with
derby
cheese, Equestrian events, sports and horse races
All related terms of 'derby'
the Derby
an annual horse race run at Epsom Downs , Surrey , since 1780: one of the English flat-racing classics
Crown Derby
a type of porcelain manufactured at Derby from 1784–1848
local Derby
a football match between two teams from the same area
sage Derby
a green-and-white Derby cheese flavoured with sage
donkey derby
a race in which contestants ride donkeys , esp at a rural fê te
roller derby
a race on roller skates , esp one involving aggressive tactics
soapbox derby
a race between children in homemade racing carts
Kentucky Derby
a race for three-year-old horses run annually since 1875 at Louisville , Kentucky
demolition derby
a competition in which contestants drive old cars into each other until there is only one car left running
(noun)
He caught a salmon in the annual fishing derby.
Synonyms
competition
He will be banned from international competitions for four years.
event
major sporting events
championship
tournament
Here is a player capable of winning a world tournament.
contest
Few contests in the recent history of British boxing have been as thrilling.
puzzle
quiz
We'll have a quiz at the end of the show.
head-to-head
Additional synonyms
in the sense of contest
Definition
a game or match in which people or teams compete
Few contests in the recent history of British boxing have been as thrilling.
Synonyms
competition,
game,
match,
trial,
tournament,
head-to-head
in the sense of event
Definition
any one contest in a sporting programme
major sporting events
Synonyms
competition,
game,
tournament,
contest,
bout
in the sense of quiz
Definition
an entertainment in which the knowledge of the players is tested by a series of questions