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links

plural noun
\ ˈliŋ(k)s How to pronounce links (audio) \

Definition of links

1 Scotland : sand hills especially along the seashore
2 : golf course specifically : a golf course on linksland
Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about links

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Did You Know?

The game of golf originated on the sandy hills of Scotland, on a type of terrain known as "links" or "linksland." Eventually, the game's layout came to be called by the same name as the land, and "links" developed the meaning of "a golf course built on the coastline," which eventually broadened to include any golf course. "Links" is ultimately derived from the Old English word hlincas (the plural of hlinc, meaning "ridge"). Recorded evidence of "hlinces" (a variant of "hlincas") goes back as far as 931, but "links" began appearing in English only in the 15th century. Britain has a number of old-fashioned links courses (built to resemble the Scottish landscape and located on the coastline), and there are a few in the United States as well.

Examples of links in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Another links footage from body cameras and patrol car cameras, and provides live feeds for commanders at headquarters. — Jon Schuppe, NBC News, "Amazon is developing high-tech surveillance tools for an eager customer: America's police," 8 Aug. 2019 The front nine plays in a links-style format and features rolling hills, native grasses and immaculate greens. — Jeremy Carranco, San Antonio Express-News, "Greater San Antonio Men’s Championship tees off for 98th time," 12 July 2018 But the truth is this links-style course only has a handful of holes that play near the shoreline and many holes either face away from the water or don’t offer any lake views at all. — Detroit Free Press, "Ranking Michigan's top 10 vacation golf courses," 21 June 2018 The course is a links-style golf club in the town of Southampton on Long Island, New York. — Nihal Kolur, SI.com, "Where is Shinnecock Hills?," 8 June 2018 The book works best, after a slow start, as a primer on Scottish links golf culture. — John Paul Newport, WSJ, "Summer Books: Golf," 23 May 2018 And some of it is a pack of spoiled, pampered golfers who just do not like a links-style course. — Mac Engel, star-telegram, "Year 1 of The Nelson at Trinity Forest was a shank | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 20 May 2018 Tried and not true Anton Shekhovtsov, a Ukrainian political scientist, has studied the links Russia has cultivated with an array of European parties. — The Economist, "Russian disinformation distorts American and European democracy," 24 Feb. 2018 The column's online version at cleveland.com/olmsted has direct online links for many news items. — Joseph Clark, cleveland.com, "Unknown intruder enters house: Olmsted Falls police blotter," 11 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'links.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of links

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for links

Middle English, from Old English hlincas, plural of hlinc ridge; akin to Old English hlanc lank

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More Definitions for links

links

noun
How to pronounce links (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of links

: a golf course especially : a golf course that is next to the ocean

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More from Merriam-Webster on links

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with links

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for links

Spanish Central: Translation of links

Nglish: Translation of links for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of links for Arabic Speakers

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