athenaeum
or ath·e·ne·um
[ ath-uh-nee-uhm, -ney- ]
/ ˌæθ əˈni əm, -ˈneɪ- /
Save This Word!
noun
an institution for the promotion of literary or scientific learning.
a library or reading room.
(initial capital letter) a sanctuary of Athena at Athens, built by the Roman emperor Hadrian, and frequented by poets and scholars.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON THE MANY TYPES OF NOUNS
They're everywhere you turn, but can you identify the 10 types of nouns easily? This quiz will test your mettle against singular, plural, concrete, abstract, common, proper, collective, compound, countable, and uncountable nouns!
Question 1 of 7
Shoelaces, rainbow, toothpaste, and haircuts are all what type of noun?
Meet Grammar Coach
Improve Your Writing
Origin of athenaeum
1720–30; <Latin <Greek Athḗnaion temple of Athena, where poets read their works
Words nearby athenaeum
atheling, Athelstan, athel tree, athematic, Athena, athenaeum, Athenaeus, Athenaeus of Attaleia, Athenagoras I, Athenian, Athénienne
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for athenaeum
British Dictionary definitions for athenaeum (1 of 2)
athenaeum
US atheneum
/ (ˌæθɪˈniːəm) /
noun
an institution for the promotion of learning
a building containing a reading room or library, esp one used by such an institution
Word Origin for athenaeum
C18: from Late Latin, from Greek Athēnaion temple of Athene, frequented by poets and teachers
British Dictionary definitions for athenaeum (2 of 2)
Athenaeum
sometimes US Atheneum
/ (ˌæθɪˈniːəm) /
noun
(in ancient Greece) a building sacred to the goddess Athena, esp the Athenian temple that served as a gathering place for the learned
(in imperial Rome) the academy of learning established near the Forum in about 135 ad by Hadrian
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012