gymnasium

¹

[ jim-ney-zee-uhm ]

noun

, plural gym·na·si·ums, gym·na·si·a [jim-, ney, -zee-, uh, -zh, uh].

1. a building or room designed and equipped for indoor sports, exercise, or physical education.
2. a place where Greek youths met for exercise and discussion.

gymnasium

²

[ gim-nah-zee-uhm ]

noun

, plural gym·na·si·ums, gym·na·si·a [gim-, nah, -zee-, uh].

1. (often initial capital letter) (in continental Europe, especially Germany) a classical school preparatory to the universities.

gymnasium

/ dʒɪmˈneɪzɪəm /

noun

1. a large room or hall equipped with bars, weights, ropes, etc, for games or physical training
2. (in various European countries) a secondary school that prepares pupils for university

Other Words From

• gym·nasi·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gymnasium¹

1590–1600; < Latin: a public school for gymnastics < Greek gymnásion gymnastic school (derivative of gymnázein to train in the nude

Origin of gymnasium²

1685–95; < German; special use of gymnasium ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of gymnasium¹

C16: from Latin: school for gymnastics, from Greek gumnasion, from gumnazein to exercise naked, from gumnos naked

Example Sentences

They stormed the gymnasium by land one sunny spring day in 1904.

From The Daily Beast

Two parallel fences tipped with barbed wire formed a narrow corridor into the gymnasium.

From The Daily Beast

The dining hall, it seemed, had been put to more use than the gymnasium.

From The Daily Beast

Emergency rooms were quickly overwhelmed and the city morgue had to set up a makeshift mortuary in a municipal gymnasium.

From The Daily Beast

“This is not a gymnasium or spectator sport,” Ingram warned.

From The Daily Beast

They entered a large room which combined the characteristics of a library with those of a military gymnasium.

From Project Gutenberg

He said he didn't take the watch and chain, that he found them in the gymnasium near the lockers.

From Project Gutenberg

Special classes have been opened at the gymnasium for the religious instruction of Jewish pupils.

From Project Gutenberg

Soldiers were already stacking up the chairs ready for the clearance of the gymnasium for the morrow.

From Project Gutenberg

Smyrna therefore was situated near the present gymnasium, at the back of the present city, but between Tracheia and Lepre Acta.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amphitheater
• gym
• rink
• stadium
• theater