Colosseum

[ kol-uh-see-uhm ]

noun

1. an ancient amphitheater in Rome, begun a.d. c70 by Vespasian, having the form of an oval 617 by 512 feet (188 by 156 meters).
2. (lowercase) coliseum.

Colosseum

¹

/ ˌkɒləˈsɪəm /

noun

1. an amphitheatre in Rome built about 75–80 ad

colosseum

²

/ ˌkɒləˈsɪəm /

noun

1. a variant spelling of coliseum

Colosseum

1. A great arena of ancient Rome , which seated fifty thousand. It is in ruins today, but its former glory can still be imagined.

Notes

According to tradition, persecuted Christians (see also Christian ) were fed to lions in the Colosseum for the entertainment of the Romans. ( See also bread and circuses .)

Some of the contests staged in the Colosseum were between gladiators, who fought with swords; some were between people and animals. The arena could even be flooded for mock sea battles.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Colosseum¹

< Latin, noun use of neuter of colossēus gigantic < Greek kolossiaîos, equivalent to koloss ( ós ) colossus + -iaios adj. suffix

Example Sentences

It’s been 24 years since audiences first saw Ridley Scott’s vision of the brutality of Rome’s Colosseum.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m talking with a Paramount publicist who is giving me a history lesson on how the Romans filled the Colosseum with water in order to stage a naval battle.

From Los Angeles Times

There are "heavily armed gladiators riding a charging rhinoceros" and "wounded men tumbling from boats into the jaws of ravenous sharks" during the nautical battle staged in the flooded pit of the Colosseum.

From BBC

She’s eaten croissants by the Eiffel Tower, drunk espressos outside the Colosseum and now, could it be time for fish and chips on the London Eye?

From BBC

“My Heart Will Go On” diva Dion on Friday attended the final leg of Adele’s viral Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

From Los Angeles Times