ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rome

n. uncountable
A1 Beginner US //ˈɹoʊm// rome Archaic

n. the capital city of Italy. It is famous for its very old buildings and long history.

n. the capital city of Italy and the administrative centre of the Lazio region. Historically significant as the seat of the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church.


SIMPLE

We are going to visit Rome this summer.

CONTEXTUAL

Many tourists travel to Rome every year to see the Colosseum and the Vatican City.

COMPLEX

As a major cultural and political hub, Rome serves as a living museum where modern urban life exists alongside ancient ruins that date back thousands of years.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English Rome, from Old English Rōm, from Proto-West Germanic Rūmu, from Proto-Germanic Rūmō and influenced by Late Latin Rōma (“Rome, Constantinople”), from Classical Latin Rōma (“Rome”). In Roman mythology, the name was said to derive from Romulus, one of the founders of the city and its first king. The name appears in a wide range of forms in Middle English, including Rom, Room, Roome, and Rombe as well as Rome; by early modern English, it appeared as Rome, Room, and Roome, with the spelling Rome occurring in Shakespeare and common from the early 18th century on. The final spelling was influenced by Norman, Middle French, Anglo-Norman, and Old French Rome. Doublet of Roma and Rum.

Usage

Proper noun — almost always used without an article unless referring to a specific historical period or metaphorical version of the city.

Idioms4 entries

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