Colosseum - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Col·os·se·um

Audio Help [kol-uh-see-uh

m] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	an ancient amphitheater in Rome, begun a.d. c70 by Vespasian, having the form of an oval 617 by 512 ft. (188 by 156 m).

2.	(lowercase) coliseum.

[Origin: < L, n. use of neut. of colosséus gigantic < Gk kolossiaǐos, equiv. to koloss(ós) colossus + -iaios adj. suffix

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Colosseum

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col·i·se·um

Audio Help [kol-i-see-uh

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–noun

1.	Also, colosseum. an amphitheater, stadium, large theater, or other special building for public meetings, sporting events, exhibitions, etc.

2.	(initial capital letter) Colosseum.

[Origin: 1700–10; < ML Colisseum; see Colosseum

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

col·i·se·um also col·os·se·um Audio Help (kŏl'ĭ-sē'əm) Pronunciation Key
n. A large amphitheater for public sports events, entertainment, or assemblies.

[Medieval Latin Colisēum, an amphitheater in Rome, Italy, variant of Latin Colossēum, from neuter of colossēus, gigantic, from colossus, huge statue; see colossus.]

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Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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col·os·se·um Audio Help (kŏl'ĭ-sē'əm) Pronunciation Key
n. Variant of coliseum.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

colosseum
noun
a large amphitheater in Rome whose construction was begun by Vespasian about AD 75 or 80

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
Colosseum

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

Note: 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.

Note: According to tradition, persecuted Christians were fed to lions in the Colosseum for the entertainment of the Romans. (See also bread and circuses.)

[Chapter:] Fine Arts

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Colosseum

Col`i*se"um\, n. [NL. (cf. It. coliseo, colosseo), fr. L. colosseus colossal, fr. colossus a colossus. See Colossus, and cf. Colosseum.] The amphitheater of Vespasian at Rome, the largest in the world. [Written also Colosseum.]

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