gymnasium
UK: dʒɪmˈneɪ.zi.əm | US: dʒɪmˈneɪ.zi.əm
n. a large room or building equipped for sports, gymnastics, or physical education.
n. (historical) a public place in ancient Greece for athletic training and socializing.
The word "gymnasium" traces back to the Greek "gymnasion," derived from "gymnos" (bare), as ancient Greek athletes trained naked. The suffix "-asion" denotes a place, later Latinized to "-asium." Originally tied to physical and intellectual training in Greek culture, the term evolved to denote modern sports facilities while retaining its classical roots.
The school gymnasium hosts basketball games and pep rallies.
In ancient Athens, the gymnasium was a hub for exercise and philosophy.
She practices gymnastics in the gymnasium every afternoon.
The university built a new gymnasium with state-of-the-art equipment.
Roman elites adopted the Greek gymnasium as a symbol of cultured leisure.