ˈstādēəm noun
( plural sta·dia -ēə ; or stadiums )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from Greek stadion, alteration (influenced by stadios fixed, stable) of spadion, from span to pull, draw, tear — more at span
1.
a. also sta·di·on -ēˌän
[ stadion from Greek]
: any of various ancient Greek units of length equal to 600 Greek feet
b. : an ancient Roman unit of length equal to 625 Roman feet or 606.95 English feet
2.
a. : a course for footraces in ancient Greece originally one stadium in length
b. : a terraced structure with seats for spectators surrounding an ancient Greek running track and typically built in the shape of a long narrow horseshoe
c. plural usually stadiums : a large usually unroofed structure with tiers of seats for spectators built in various shapes (as circular or elliptic) and enclosing a field usually used for sports events (as baseball, football, track and field) — compare circus
3.
[New Latin, from Latin]
: a phase of development or growth : period ; specifically : the interval between any two successive molts in the development of an insect