Word Study
stadium
CIDE DICTIONARY
stadium, n. [L., a stadium (in sense 1), from Gr. sta`dion.].
- A Greek measure of length, being the chief one used for itinerary distances, also adopted by the Romans for nautical and astronomical measurements. It was equal to 600 Greek or 625 Roman feet, or 125 Roman paces, or to 606 feet 9 inches English. This was also called the
Olympic stadium , as being the exact length of the foot-race course at Olympia. Dr. W. Smith. [1913 Webster] - A race course; especially, the Olympic course for foot races. [1913 Webster]
- A modern structure, with its inclosure, resembling the ancient stadium{2}, used for athletic games which are typically played out-of-doors; such stadiums are usually large structures without roofs, though some modern stadiums may have a protective dome overhead. It may be contrasted with the
arena , the term commonly used for smaller structures at which indoor games are played. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] - A kind of telemeter for measuring the distance of an object of known dimensions, by observing the angle it subtends; especially
(Surveying) , a graduated rod used to measure the distance of the place where it stands from an instrument having a telescope, by observing the number of the graduations of the rod that are seen between certain parallel wires (stadia wires) in the field of view of the telescope; -- also calledstadia , andstadia rod . [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
stadium, n. (pl. stadiums)
1 an athletic or sports ground with tiers of seats for spectators.
2 (pl. stadiums or stadia) Antiq. a a course for a foot-race or chariot-race. b a measure of length, about 185 metres.
3 a stage or period of development etc.
1 an athletic or sports ground with tiers of seats for spectators.
2 (pl. stadiums or stadia) Antiq. a a course for a foot-race or chariot-race. b a measure of length, about 185 metres.
3 a stage or period of development etc.
Etymology
ME f. L f. Gk stadion
THESAURUS
stadium
agora, amphitheater, arena, assembly hall, athletic field, auditorium, background, bear garden, bowl, boxing ring, bull ring, campus, canvas, chapel, circus, cockpit, coliseum, colosseum, concert hall, convention hall, course, dance hall, exhibition hall, field, floor, forum, gallery, garden, ground, gym, gymnasium, hall, hippodrome, lecture hall, lists, locale, marketplace, mat, meetinghouse, milieu, music hall, open forum, opera house, palaestra, parade ground, pit, place, platform, precinct, prize ring, public square, purlieu, range, ring, scene, scene of action, scenery, setting, site, sphere, spy, squared circle, stage, stage set, stage setting, terrain, theater, tilting ground, tiltyard, walk, wrestling ringFor further exploring for "stadium" in Webster Dictionary Online