Dromes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Plurals of structures or places associated with running, racing, or similar activities; plural form of a suffix denoting a place or arena for a given function; multiple areas designated for specific events or performances
2. Several venues or zones designed for athletic or competitive running; multiple terms referring to locations characterized by a particular activity suffix; various fields or facilities commonly used for specific tests or trials
3. Numerous sites or grounds typically used for organized running contests; multiple instances of a word part used in formation of place names; several places intended for sporting or entertainment purposes

Etymology: "Dromes" is the plural of "drome," a word that came into English from French, which took it from Ancient Greek "drómos," meaning "running" or "a race course." The Greek noun comes from the verb "trekhein," to run, and the same root gave English "dromos," the ancient Greek word for a racecourse or a passage lined with a track, which English kept as a separate, doublet form. The Greek word moved into modern use through a historical reconstruction: the sites of ancient Greek athletic contests were the models for the sense "a racecourse." Sites of this kind gave rise to "drome" as a combining element, so that "-drome" now appears in names of places built for running and racing, such as "velodrome" for cycling and "hippodrome" for horse racing. In the plural, "dromes" is used mainly in the sense of several such grounds or several instances of the element in place names, so it is rarely met outside technical or sporting writing.

Synonyms: stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters