palestra UK /pəˈliːstɹə/US /pəˈlɛstɹə/ noun2 •(historical) A public area in ancient Greece and Rome dedicated to the teaching and practice of wrestling and other sports; a wrestling school, a gymnasium.Athenian culture flourished in externalities, the open air of the agora and the nudity of the palestra. — 1990 •An arena for literal or figurative combat; a battlefield. formspalestrae · palestras