stadium

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsteɪdɪəm/

noun (plural stadiums or stadia /ˈsteɪdɪə/)

  • 1an athletic or sports ground with tiers of seats for spectators.
  • (in ancient Rome or Greece) a track for a foot race or chariot race.
  • 2 (plural stadia) an ancient Roman or Greek measure of length, about 185 metres (originally the length of a stadium).

Origin:

late Middle English (in stadium (sense 2)): via Latin from Greek stadion. Sense 1 dates from the mid 19th century

Spelling help

The plural of stadium can be spelled either stadiums or stadia (like the original Latin).