Colosseum

American  

[kol-uh-see-uhm] / ˌkɒl əˈsi əm /

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.

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colosseum ¹ British  

/ ˌkɒləˈsɪəm /

noun

1. a variant spelling of coliseum

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Colosseum ² British  

/ ˌkɒləˈsɪəm /

noun

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

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Colosseum Cultural  

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

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Discover More

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.

Etymology

Origin of Colosseum

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

Example Sentences

Tree surgeons cut down historic pines near Rome's Colosseum on Friday, a fortnight after three people were hurt when a massive tree fell near the Imperial Forum.

From Barron's

“It’s like the Roman Colosseum, with the roar of the crowd, the thirst for a powerful hit. It is incredibly emblematic of what America is in a lot of different ways.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Pricing based on age is commonplace in Europe, with access for under-18s free at places such as the Acropolis in Athens, the Prado in Madrid or the Colosseum in Rome to encourage them to visit.

From Barron's

There have certainly been occasions when Select Committee hearings have felt worthy of Rome's Colosseum, with MPs grand-standing and landing blows.

From BBC

“Your Colosseum is colossal,” Mrs. Apple said approvingly.

From Literature