Columbia Encyclopedia

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gambling

(Encyclopedia)gambling or gaming, betting of money or valuables on, and often participation in, games of chance (some involving degrees of skill). In England and in the United States, gambling was not a common-law ...

skiing

(Encyclopedia)skiing, sport of sliding over snow on skis—long, narrow, flexible runners. Water skiing is a warm-weather sport in which a motor-propelled craft tows a skier through the water. Although its orig...

Chula Vista

(Encyclopedia)Chula Vista cho͞oˈlə [key], city (2020 pop. 275,487), San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego ...

Fleming, Peggy

(Encyclopedia)Fleming, Peggy, 1948–, American ice skater, b. San Jose, Calif. She began skating at age 9, and after distinguished accomplishments as a juvenile and novice skater, she was U.S. Ladies Champion from...

Melankomas of Caria

(Encyclopedia)Melankomas of Caria, d. c. a.d. 70, ancient Greek boxer. Known for his exceptional beauty, conditioning, and endurance, he is said to have always held his arms up high in defense, thus protecting his ...

Lake Placid

(Encyclopedia)Lake Placid, village (1990 pop. 2,485), Essex co., NE N.Y.; settled 1850, inc. 1900. In the Adirondack Mts. at an altitude of 1,800 ft (549 m), the village surrounds Mirror Lake. It is a famous resort...

Philip VI, king of Spain

(Encyclopedia)Philip VI, 1968–, king of Spain (2014–). The only son and youngest child of Juan Carlos I, he was created prince of Asturias in 1977. As heir apparent, he traveled widely as a representative of Sp...

Alexander, Grover Cleveland

(Encyclopedia)Alexander, Grover Cleveland, 1887–1950, American baseball player, b. St. Paul, Nebr. One of the great right-handed pitchers in National League history, Alexander pitched 696 games and won 373 of the...

Fischer, Bobby

(Encyclopedia)Fischer, Bobby (Robert James Fischer) fĭshˈər [key], 1943–2008, American chess player, b. Chicago. In 1958, he became a grandmaster, the youngest to that time. In the Interzonal and Candidates' m...

Rose, Pete

(Encyclopedia)Rose, Pete (Peter Edward Rose), 1941–, American baseball player, b. Cincinnati. The National League Rookie of the Year in 1963 and Most Valuable Player in 1973, Rose was a switch hitter who played o...