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athletic sock

athletic sock

1 1.0
A sock worn for sports that keeps feet comfortable and dry
  • noun
  • /æθˈlɛtɪk sɑk/
translation icon : calcetín deportivo
  • She always wears athletic socks when running to keep her feet comfortable.
  • white athletic socks
  • wearing athletic socks
  • pair of athletic socks

One has all athletic socks because as you know, Sona, I work out constantly.

Examples

  • I was already wearing athletic socks, Nikes, blue jeans, and a black t-shirt.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Calf-length athletic socks (Fig. 2) or long nylon stockings cover the legs.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Rose was wearing white cotton athletic socks without shoes.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • One has all athletic socks because as you know, Sona, I work out constantly.

  • The brace was worn over a single athletic sock.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Their T-shirts are loose, their pants are baggy, and their athletic socks sag below their ankles.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • When he returned, he was wearing a pair of white athletic socks on his feet, a gesture aimed at her sensitivities, she supposed, though the socks didn't do much to hide the lumpiness.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • His feet in their once white but now laundered-to-gray athletic socks extended past the end of the mattress by a good three inches; one arm trailed off the side of the bed, and headphones were clamped to his ears.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Besides the crackers, the trunk had yielded a gym bag containing an orange muscle shirt, black nylon shorts, white athletic socks rolled into a ball, another pair of enormous sneakers, and a basketball.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The coach recommended a good pair of athletic socks for the upcoming marathon.

Synonyms

sock
vsathletic sock
545 1.0

A soft covering for your foot and lower part of the leg worn inside a shoe

is specialized for athletic use with added support and moisture control
sweat sock
vsathletic sock
2 2.4

A thick absorbent sock worn during sport to soak up sweat

is designed for exercise to give support and control moisture rather than just absorb
varsity sock
vsathletic sock
  • US
5.0

A knee-high sports sock often worn in school or college colors

is focused on athletic use for comfort and moisture control rather than uniform display

How Supportive

athletic sock
1 1.0
sock
545 1.0
anklet
1 1.9

Surface Forms

athletic sock singular

Morphology

athletic + sock

The meaning 'a sock designed for athletic activities' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'athletic' (relating to sports) with 'sock' (a foot covering). This adjective+noun composition is a common, productive pattern in English (and many other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Athletic sock is a simple name that gives a clear picture: athletic means about athletes and sock is the cloth you wear on your foot, so it is literally a sock made 'for sports'. That's why the term refers to a sock made to give comfort, support, and to keep your feet dry during exercise.