Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An enclosed area for the presentation of sports events and spectacles.
  • noun A building housing such an area.
  • noun A place or scene where forces contend or events unfold.
  • noun The area in the center of an ancient Roman amphitheater where contests and other spectacles were held.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Are not.
  • noun The inclosed space in the central part of the Roman amphitheaters, in which the combats of gladiators or wild beasts took place.
  • noun Figuratively, the scene or theater of exertion or contest of any kind: as, the arena of war or of debate.
  • noun In pathology, sand or gravel in the kidneys.
  • noun In architecture, the main area of a temple, church, or other building.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Rom. Antiq.) The area in the central part of an amphitheater, in which the gladiators fought and other shows were exhibited; -- so called because it was covered with sand.
  • noun Any place of public contest or exertion; any sphere of action
  • noun (Med.) “Sand” or “gravel” in the kidneys.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An enclosed area, often outdoor, for the presentation of sporting events (sports arena) or other spectacular events; earthen area, often oval, specifically for rodeos (N. America) or circular area for bullfights (especially Hispanic America).
  • noun The building housing such an area.
  • noun The sand-covered centre of an amphitheatre where contests were held.
  • noun A realm in which important events unfold.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the central area of an ancient Roman amphitheater where contests and spectacles were held; especially an area that was strewn with sand
  • noun a playing field where sports events take place
  • noun a particular environment or walk of life
  • noun a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin harēna, arēna, sand, a sand-strewn place of combat in an amphitheater, perhaps of Etruscan origin.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin arena ("sand, arena").

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Examples

Comments

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  • "an era" in reverse

    January 26, 2007

  • AREnA

    April 26, 2008

  • "fan setting" (X-word clue)

    September 27, 2009

  • *groan*

    September 27, 2009

  • "1. The inclosed space in the central part of the Roman amphitheaters, in which the combats of gladiators or wild beasts took place. It was usually covered with sand or sawdust, to prevent the gladiators from slipping and to absorb the blood, and, for the protection of the spectators from the beasts, was surrounded by a high wall, which was often surmounted by a strong grating."

    "3. In pathology, sand or gravel in the kidneys."

    --both from the Century Dictionary

    April 12, 2011