ARENA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does arena mean? 

• ARENA (noun)
  The noun ARENA has 4 senses:

1. a particular environment or walk of life

2. the central area of an ancient Roman amphitheater where contests and spectacles were held; especially an area that was strewn with sand

3. a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments

4. a playing field where sports events take place

  Familiarity information: ARENA used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ARENA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A particular environment or walk of life

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

area; arena; domain; field; orbit; sphere

Context example:

he's out of my orbit

Hypernyms ("arena" is a kind of...):

environment (the totality of surrounding conditions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arena"):

distaff (the sphere of work by women)

front (a sphere of activity involving effort)

kingdom; land; realm (a domain in which something is dominant)

lap (an area of control or responsibility)

political arena; political sphere (a sphere of intense political activity)

preserve (a domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone)

province; responsibility (the proper sphere or extent of your activities)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The central area of an ancient Roman amphitheater where contests and spectacles were held; especially an area that was strewn with sand

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("arena" is a kind of...):

area; country (a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography))

Sense 3

Meaning:

A large structure for open-air sports or entertainments

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

arena; bowl; sports stadium; stadium

Hypernyms ("arena" is a kind of...):

construction; structure (a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts)

Meronyms (parts of "arena"):

standing room (room for passengers or spectators to stand)

athletic field; field; playing area; playing field (a piece of land prepared for playing a game)

tiered seat (seating that is arranged in sloping tiers so that spectators in the back can see over the heads of those in front)

stand (tiered seats consisting of a structure (often made of wood) where people can sit to watch an event (game or parade))

field house (an athletic facility where athletes prepare for sport)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arena"):

amphitheater; amphitheatre; coliseum (an oval large stadium with tiers of seats; an arena in which contests and spectacles are held)

ballpark; park (a facility in which ball games are played (especially baseball games))

bullring (a stadium where bullfights take place)

circus ((antiquity) an open-air stadium for chariot races and gladiatorial games)

covered stadium; dome; domed stadium (a stadium that has a roof)

football stadium (a stadium where football games are held)

hippodrome (a stadium for horse shows or horse races)

skybox (an elevated box for viewing events at a sports stadium)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A playing field where sports events take place

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

arena; scene of action

Hypernyms ("arena" is a kind of...):

athletic field; field; playing area; playing field (a piece of land prepared for playing a game)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arena"):

circus (an arena consisting of an oval or circular area enclosed by tiers of seats and usually covered by a tent)

 Context examples 

Needless to say the arena was crowded with hosts of lesser lights, and the dust and sweat and din became terrific.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Gravely and sternly he inclined his head to the prince, and took his place at the further end of the arena.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A Standards Developing Organization (SDO) operating in the healthcare arena with an emphasis on the domain of clinical and administrative data.

(Health Level Seven, NCI Thesaurus)

For example, research in this arena will uncover new mechanisms of carcinogenesis and cardiovascular disease and will lead to better understanding of osteoarthritis, birth defects and growth disorders.

(New Approaches to Pathogenesis, NCI Thesaurus)

The current policy is not to decide scientifically but to say that it is not up to the legal system to decide because the debate is currently almost in the legal arena.

(Health threats caused by mobile phone radiation, EUROPARL TV)

You seem to be focused on a very new project, one that would help you to pioneer into an entirely new arena.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Then an instant later a second shout broke forth, beginning from the other side of the arena, and the faces which had been turned towards us whisked round, so that in a twinkling the whole foreground changed from white to dark.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The concept of the Center was to have a facility whereby individuals (geneticists, cell biologists, and laboratory-based clinicians) could assemble in an arena to review technologies that are mature enough to span both science and clinics.

(Advanced Technology Center, NCI Thesaurus)

He stooped down from his horse and whispered something into the old knight's ear which made him start with surprise, and stare with much curiosity at the distant Knight, who was sitting his charger at the further end of the arena.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Because Jupiter expands all it touches, you will be in an arena that will allow you to express your full range of imaginative ideas—your creativity will be lauded and appreciated, and your projects will be green-lighted.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)