gymnasium Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a school for students intermediate between elementary school and college; usually grades 9 to 12
    middle school; secondary school; lycee; lyceum.
  2. noun athletic facility equipped for sports or physical training
    gym.

WordNet

Gym*na"si*um noun
Etymology
L., fr. Gr. , fr. to exercise (naked), fr. naked.
Wordforms
plural E Gymnasiums L Gymnasia
Definitions
  1. A place or building where athletic exercises are performed; a school for gymnastics.
  2. A school for the higher branches of literature and science; a preparatory school for the university; -- used esp. of German schools of this kind.
    More like ordinary schools of gymnasia than universities. Hallam.

Webster 1913