colosseum

noun

col·​os·​se·​um ˌkä-lə-ˈsē-əm 

1

capitalized : an amphitheater built in Rome in the first century a.d.

2

: coliseum sense 2

Synonyms

• bowl
• circus
• coliseum
• stadium

Example Sentences

run 10 laps around the colosseum

Recent Examples on the Web

Horse racing already operates on fragile footing in the bruising colosseum of public opinion. —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2023

Tourists have also been fined for carving initials in landmarks, stealing chunks of the colosseum in Rome and making off with everything from mosaics to fingers from the country’s world class monuments and museums. —Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 25 Mar. 2023

So what’s changing? General Balance Adjustments: An invincibility window while respawning in the colosseum has been added. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023

Elden Ring was released February 25th last year, and so far the game has only received patches for balance, and an update enabling better PvP in the game’s colosseums. —James Vincent, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2023

The second had Grant’s character overseeing a massive colosseum where the heroes were shown with other groups of questers, trying to make their way through a maze while being pursued by a homicidal jaguar-esque creature. —Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 July 2022

And so, each year Fred would return to the mastodon colosseum of greater Fort Wayne for incredibly violent rounds of combat. —Peter Brannen, The Atlantic, 22 June 2022

For the exchange student, school is a maze, a confusing colosseum. —Hurmat Kazmi, The Atlantic, 23 Nov. 2021

The colosseum Lego set, which will be available to buy on Nov. 27, or Black Friday, is part of the brand’s Creator Expert line, which is designed for builders over the age of 18 years old. —Jonathan Bender, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2020

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Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin, neuter of colosseus colossal, from colossus

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

colosseum

noun

col·​os·​se·​um ˌkäl-ə-ˈsē-əm 

1

capitalized : an outdoor arena built in Rome in the first century a.d.

2

: coliseum

Etymology

Latin, from colosseus "colossal," derived from colossus "colossus"