jimˈnāzēəm sometimes -zhəm, in sense 2 gimˈnäzēəm or -nȧz- or -ēˌu̇m noun
( plural gymnasiums -mz ; or gymna·sia -zēə, -zhə)
Etymology: Latin, gymnastic school, school, from Greek gymnasion, from gymnazein to train naked, exercise, from gymnos naked — more at naked
1.
a. : a large room used for various indoor sports (as basketball, boxing, volleyball) and equipped with gymnastic apparatus
b. : a building (as on a college campus) containing appropriate space and equipment for various indoor sports activities associated with a program of physical education and typically including spectator accommodations, locker and shower rooms, a swimming pool, offices, and classrooms
2.
[German, from Latin]
: a secondary school designed to prepare students for the university ; especially : a German secondary school whose curriculum stresses the classics, history, mathematics, and modern languages