arena

noun are·na \ə-ˈrē-nə\

: a building for sports and other forms of entertainment that has a large central area surrounded by seats

: an area of activity, interest, or competition

Full Definition of ARENA

: an area in a Roman amphitheater for gladiatorial combats

a : an enclosed area used for public entertainment

b : a building containing an arena

a : a sphere of interest, activity, or competition <the political arena>

b : a place or situation for controversy <in the public arena>

See arena defined for English-language learners

See arena defined for kids

Origin of ARENA

Latin harena, arena sand, sandy place

First Known Use: 1600

Related to ARENA

Synonyms: amphitheater, hall, auditorium, garden, theater (or theatre)

Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, parapet, pilaster, plinth

Rhymes with ARENA

Athena, Bernina, cantina, catena, Christina, coquina, corbina, corvina, czarina, dracaena, euglena, farina, fontina, galena, Georgina, hyena, kachina, marina, Marina, medina, Medina, novena, patina, piscina, platina, retsina, sestina, Shechinah, subpoena, verbena

ARENA Defined for Kids

arena

noun are·na \ə-ˈrē-nə\

Definition of ARENA for Kids

: an enclosed area used for public entertainment <a skating arena>

: a building containing an enclosed area used for public entertainment

: a field of activity <the political arena>

Word History of ARENA

In ancient Rome gladiators fought in big outdoor theaters. These theaters had a large open space in the middle covered with sand. The Latin word for this space, harena, meant literally “sand.” The English word arena came from this Latin word.