league Definition

league¹
noun

1. A union of persons, nations, etc formed for the benefit of the members.

Thesaurus: alliance, association, class, category, coalition, confederation, federation, fraternity, union, syndicate, cartel.
2. A group of sports clubs which compete over a period for a championship.
3. A class or group, considered in terms of ability, importance, etc.

verb

tr & intr
leagued, leaguing
1. To form or be formed into a league.

Idiom: bottom of the league (top of the league)

The lowest or highest in a particular field of achievement, or in quality.

Idiom: in league with someone

Acting or planning with them, usually for some unfavourable outcome or purpose.

Idiom: in the big league

colloq
Amongst the most important, powerful, etc people, organizations, etc.

Idiom: not in the same league as

Not of the same calibre, ability, importance, etc, as.

Etymology: 15c: from Latin ligare to bind.

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league²
noun

old use:
1. A unit for measuring distance travelled, usually taken to be about 4.8km (3ml).
2. naut.
A measure, 1/20th of a degree, 3 international nautical miles, 5.556km (3.456 statute miles).

Etymology: 14c: from Latin leuga a Gaulish unit of distance.