[a. L. colossēum, med.L. colisēum (colysēum; cf. It. coliseo, F. colisée), originally neuter of adj. colossēus gigantic, colossal, f. COLOSSUS, q.v.]
1. The amphitheater of Vespasian at Rome.
1708–15. Kersey, Coliseum, a Name peculiar to a famous Amphitheater, built by the Emperor Vespasian.
1731. Bailey, vol. II. Colosseum.
1818. Byron, Ch. Har., IV. clxv. While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand; When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall; And when Rome falls—the World [transl. of ‘Bedæ Vaticinium,’ Quandiu stabit Colyseus, stabit et Roma; quando cadet Colyseus, cadet et Roma: quando cadet Roma, cadet et mundus].
1870. Ch. Rev., 21 May, 325/3. The pilgrimage made by an immense concourse of people to the Colosseum.
† 2. = F. colisée, sometimes applied to other ancient Roman amphitheaters. Obs.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, etc. I. 121. An old Roman colisseum … repaired well.
3. Frequently given as a name to theaters or other large places of amusement or resort.
