stadium

[stey-dee-uhm]

noun

plural

stadiums, stadia 

1. a sports arena, usually oval or horseshoe-shaped, with tiers of seats for spectators.

2. an ancient Greek course for foot races, typically semicircular, with tiers of seats for spectators.

3. an ancient Greek and Roman unit of length, the Athenian unit being equal to about 607 feet (185 meters).

4. a stage in a process or in the life of an organism.

5. Entomology.,  stage.

stadium

/ ˈsteɪdɪəm /

noun

1. a sports arena with tiered seats for spectators

2. (in ancient Greece) a course for races, usually located between two hills providing natural slopes for tiers of seats

3. an ancient Greek measure of length equivalent to about 607 feet or 184 metres

4. (in many arthropods) the interval between two consecutive moultings

5. obsolete,  a particular period or stage in the development of a disease

Word History and Origins

Origin of stadium¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek stádion unit of distance, racecourse

Word History and Origins

Origin of stadium¹

C16: via Latin from Greek stadion , changed from spadion a racecourse, from spān to pull; also influenced by Greek stadios steady

Example Sentences

They help teams pay wages, maintain stadiums and other facilities, and pay for crucial services including power and transport.

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"I don't have words. I was at the stadium and I supported our team unconditionally," he said.

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While never behind at Hampden on Sunday, they were ringing almost as loud as the booing coming from the 49,000 inside Scotland's national stadium.

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The 39-year-old's final match was a 1-1 draw at Falkirk before the international break, following which he was given a police escort away from the stadium after fans tried to stop the team bus leaving.

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The main competition resumed Friday in a traditional stadium.

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Related Words

• amphitheater 
• field 
• garden 
• gymnasium