an obsolete unit of distance of variable length (usually 3 miles), (Sports) An association of sports teams that establishes rules of play, decides questions of membership in the league, and organizes matches between the member teams In some cases a sports league is called a conference, as in the National Football Conference, A compact or covenant between persons for the maintenance of joint interests or mutual service; hence, union; close affinity; friendship, verb_ To form an association, transitive verb_ To join in a league; to cause to combine for a joint purpose; to combine; to unite, intransitive verb_ To unite in a league or confederacy; to combine for mutual support; to confederate