hippodrome

noun

hip·​po·​drome ˈhi-pə-ˌdrōm How to pronounce hippodrome (audio)
1
: an oval stadium for horse and chariot races in ancient Greece
2
: an arena for equestrian performances

Examples of hippodrome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In 2020, the hippodrome hosted an international equestrian festival, bringing together riders from across West Africa. Rachel Chason, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2023 Today, that history is honored by the dozens of young men who continue to train and care for horses, then gather with them at the hippodrome to race on tracks lined with tires. Rachel Chason, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2023 In La Teste-de-Buch, firefighters have turned the local hippodrome into a temporary headquarters, buzzing with fire trucks. New York Times, 19 July 2022 Pictured from the back, the lithe figure of a boy sits, insouciant, atop a railing that surrounds the hippodrome. The New Yorker, 13 May 2022 But from Dan Patch Avenue to the hippodrome, the pair’s fame lives on with every beloved horse shown at the fair. Staff Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 28 Aug. 2020 Witnesses to the attack near the Roman hippodrome said a man dressed in black and either bearded or with his face covered rushed at a group without warning shortly after 11 a.m. and began stabbing people indiscriminately. Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2019 The remains of the ancient aqueduct, theater, hippodrome, and bathhouses make for a daylong adventure. Snorkeling or scuba diving is available in the ancient harbor through the Old Caesarea Diving Center. National Geographic, 16 Apr. 2019 And the channel, according to the archaeologists, was built long after the hippodrome had been repurposed as an industrial building under the Byzantine Empire and then a burial ground under the Umayyads. Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 30 May 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hippodrome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin hippodromos, from Greek, from hippos + dromos racecourse — more at dromedary

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hippodrome was in 1585

Dictionary Entries Near hippodrome

Cite this Entry

“Hippodrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hippodrome. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hippodrome

noun
hip·​po·​drome ˈhip-ə-ˌdrōm How to pronounce hippodrome (audio)
1
: an oval stadium for horse and chariot races in ancient Greece
2
: an arena for spectacles (as horse shows or circuses)

More from Merriam-Webster on hippodrome

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