Blow: A landed punch

Blocking: Using the hands, shoulders or arms to prevent an opponent's punch from landing cleanly on the head or torso

Bout: The boxing match that takes place between two competitors

Box: Spoken by the referee when ordering the boxers to resume fighting

Break: A referee's command for boxers to break from a clinch. On the command, each boxer takes a step back before continuing to box.

Caution: An admonition by the referee after a boxer commits a foul. Repeated cautions may lead to warnings. Only three warnings to the same boxer are allowed per bout before disqualification.

Clinch: When two boxers are holding or leaning on each other, and not throwing punches

Combination: Punches thrown in sequence, such as a left jab, followed by a straight right, followed by a left hook

Covering: Holding the hands high in front of the face to keep the opponent from landing a clean punch

Counter-punch: A counterattack, begun immediately after an opponent throws a punch. A "counter-puncher" typically waits for his opponent to throw punches, then blocks or slips past them and exploits the opening in his opponent's position.

Draw: Can mean one of two things: 1) The ceremony to randomly select boxers and set the bracket for each weight category; 2) When a judge has both boxers even on points at the end of the bout, they have the bout scored as a draw

Feint: Faking a punch to induce the opponent to open up into a vulnerable position

Footwork: The way a boxer moves and plants his or her feet which enables them to be well-balanced for throwing punches and ready to switch easily between defensive and offensive boxing

Fouls: A foul in Olympic boxing can be classified under one of three categories — a caution, a warning or a disqualification. A caution is an admonition by the referee and repeated cautions may lead to warnings. Only three warnings to the same boxer are allowed per bout before disqualification.

Gloves: Each boxer wears 10-ounce or 12-ounce gloves (depending on their weight class) on his or her hands. The outside of each glove is colored either red or blue, corresponding to the boxer's home corner.

Headgear/headguard: Equipment worn over a boxer's head to protect it during a bout. Head protection is only mandatory in women's boxing

Hook: A short power punch in which the boxer swings from the shoulder with his or her elbow bent, bringing his or her fist from the side toward the center

Jab: A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand. It can be used as a set-up for power punches, as a way to gauge distance, to keep an opponent wary, or as a defensive move to slow an advancing opponent

Judge: Judges are tasked with the responsibility of scoring the match. The scores from five judges will be used when determining the winner of a bout.

Jury: The jury monitors and oversees the electronic scoring system and confirms all decisions. The jury cannot overturn the decision of the judges unless a protest is filed.

Knockdown: When a boxer touches the floor of the ring as a result of a blow by his opponent. This touch may be with any part of a boxer's body excluding his feet.

Mouthpiece: A piece of plastic used to protect a fighter's teeth and prevent him from biting his tongue

Neutral corner: Either of two corners colored white that are not assigned to either boxer

No contest: When a bout is stopped by the referee because of an incident outside the responsibility of the boxers or control of the referee

Pivot blow: An illegal blow in which a boxer pivots one's body while landing a punch

Referee: The individual responsible for officiating matches in the ring. Referees do not score matches; judges are assigned with this task.

Ring: The 20-foot by 20-foot square area inside the ropes where competition occurs

Round: A round in Olympic boxing lasts three minutes, with each bout consisting of three rounds

Second: A coach or trainer who is stationed in the corner of a ring during a bout. They are able to provide instructional or medical support to a boxer in between rounds. Also known as a cornerman

Stop: Spoken by the referee when ordering the boxers to stop fighting

Technical knockout (TKO): If a boxer is unfit to continue the bout, or if he fails to resume boxing immediately after the rest between rounds, his opponent will be declared the winner. In Olympic boxing, this is also known as "referee stops contest" (RSC).

Time: Spoken by the referee when ordering the timekeeper and gong operator to stop the time

Uppercut: A powerful, upward punch that rises underneath an opponent's chin

Walkover: If a boxer is present in the ring and their opponent fails to appear in the ring after being announced, and one minute after the bell has been sounded, the present boxer will be declared the winner by walkover. A boxer can also win by walkover if their opponent fails their medical examination or fails to make weight before the bout.

Warning: Given by the referee to the boxer who commits a serious foul. When the referee signals a warning, the ringside judges deduct a point from that boxer's total score. Three warnings in a bout means disqualification.

Weaving: A way of eluding punches by turning and twisting movements

Weigh-in: On each day of competition, each boxer must present himself or herself at the weigh-in. Boxers must not weigh more than the allotted amount for their weight class, with the exception of the super heavyweight class, which is unlimited. The official weigh-in is done in kilograms. Failure to make weight results in a victory by walkover in favor of that boxer's scheduled opponent.

Weight classes: There are seven weight classes in men's Olympic boxing and six weight classes in women's Olympic boxing. Each weight classes places a cap on how much a competitor can weigh, with the exception of the super heavyweight class, which is unlimited.