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. See coliseum
   a variant spelling of coliseum

Colosseum

²

/ ˌkɒləˈsɪəm /

noun

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

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

Like the Colosseum, Jep both stands above and is a part of the grotesqueries that revolve around him.

From The Daily Beast

Viewed from the harbor, the town presents a striking picture, and the most remarkable feature is the great colosseum on the hill.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the many sights of Rome none give us a better idea of its ancient civilisation than the Forum and the Colosseum.

From Project Gutenberg

The gigantic Colosseum to the humblest of ruins, everything p. 34in Rome is eloquent in the language of history.

From Project Gutenberg

This time-eaten, weather-beaten Colosseum saw many a gladiator 'butchered to make a Roman holiday.'

From Project Gutenberg

He himself has stood within the ruined Colosseum and re-echoed Byron's heroics.

From Project Gutenberg