Main Entry:

gym·na·si·um

Pronunciation:

\sense 1 jim-ˈnā-zē-əm, -zhəm; sense 2 usually gim-ˈnä-zē-əm\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural gym·na·si·ums or -na·sia \-ˈnā-zē-ə, -ˈnā-zhə; -ˈnä-zē-ə\

Etymology:

Latin, exercise ground, school, from Greek gymnasion, from gymnazein to exercise naked, from gymnos naked — more at naked

Date:

1598

1 a: a large room used for various indoor sports (as basketball or boxing) and usually equipped with gymnastic apparatus b: a building (as on a college campus) containing space and equipment for various indoor sports activities and usually including spectator accommodations, locker and shower rooms, offices, classrooms, and a swimming pool2 [German, from Latin, school] : a European secondary school that prepares students for the university