Meaning & use
colosseum
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A large, round or oval open-air structure with tiered seating, used for public spectacles and sporting events.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a colosseum' or 'colosseums'. When capitalized, it refers to the specific Colosseum in Rome.
Patterns
- the Colosseum
- a colosseum
The ancient Romans built the Colosseum for gladiatorial contests.
Modern stadiums are sometimes compared to a colosseum.
The colosseum in Rome is a major tourist attraction.
Word forms
| plural | colosseums |
|---|
Common combinations
- the Colosseum in Rome
- The Colosseum in Rome is one of the world's most famous landmarks.
- visit the Colosseum
- We visited the Colosseum during our trip to Italy.
- ancient colosseum
- The ancient colosseum was used for public entertainment.
Synonyms and how they differ
- amphitheater
- Amphitheater is a more general term for a round or oval building with tiered seating, while Colosseum usually refers to the specific one in Rome or similar large structures.
- arena
- Arena often refers to the central area where events take place, while colosseum refers to the whole building.
Commonly confused: colosseum or Coliseum?
colosseum vs Coliseum
Coliseum is an alternative spelling, especially in American English, but both refer to the same type of structure.
Practice
Which sentence correctly uses 'Colosseum'?
Choose one answer.
The Colosseum is located in Rome. The other cities have famous landmarks but not the Colosseum.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “colosseum”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.