Adjacent Words

spectacle definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight); "the tragic spectacle of cripples trying to escape"
2: an elaborate and remarkable display on a lavish scale
3: a blunder that makes you look ridiculous; used in the phrase `make a spectacle of' yourself

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin spectaculum, from spectare to watch, frequentative of specere to look, look at — more at spy Date: 14th century 1. a. something exhibited to view as unusual, notable, or entertaining; especially an eye-catching or dramatic public display b. an object of curiosity or contempt <made a spectacle of herself> 2. plural glasses 3. something (as natural markings on an animal) suggesting a pair of glasses

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a public show, ceremony, etc. 2 anything attracting public attention (a charming spectacle; a disgusting spectacle). Phrases and idioms: make a spectacle of oneself make oneself an object of ridicule. Etymology: ME f. OF f. L spectaculum f. spectare frequent. of specere look

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spectacle Spec"ta*cle, n. [F., fr. L. spectaculum, fr. spectare to look at, to behold, v. intens. fr. specere. See Spy.] 1. Something exhibited to view; usually, something presented to view as extraordinary, or as unusual and worthy of special notice; a remarkable or noteworthy sight; a show; a pageant; a gazingstock. O, piteous spectacle? O, bloody times! --Shak. 2. A spy-glass; a looking-glass. [Obs.] Poverty a spectacle is, as thinketh me, Through which he may his very friends see. --Chaucer. 3. pl. An optical instrument consisting of two lenses set in a light frame, and worn to assist sight, to obviate some defect in the organs of vision, or to shield the eyes from bright light. 4. pl. Fig.: An aid to the intellectual sight. Shakespeare . . . needed not the spectacles of books to read nature. --Dryden. Syn: Show; sight; exhibition; representation; pageant.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(spectacles) 1. Glasses are sometimes referred to as spectacles. (FORMAL) He looked at me over the tops of his spectacles. ...thick spectacle frames. N-PLURAL: also a pair of N 2. A spectacle is a strange or interesting sight. It was a spectacle not to be missed... = sight N-COUNT 3. A spectacle is a grand and impressive event or performance. 94,000 people turned up for the spectacle. ...a director passionate about music and spectacle. = extravaganza N-VAR 4. rose-coloured spectacles: see rose-coloured

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

spek'-ta-k'-l (theatron): Occurs twice in the New Testament:

(1) of the place where assemblies or exhibitions Were held (Ac 19:29, "theatre");

(2) figuratively of the suffering apostles (1Co 4:9).

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Show, exhibition, sight, scene, representation, display, pageant, parade, gazing-stock. 2. Curiosity, wonder, marvel, phenomenon, sight.

Moby Thesaurus

Grand Guignol, Passion play, Tom show, amazement, antimasque, astonishing thing, astonishment, audience success, ballet, blazon, bomb, bravura, brilliancy, broadcast drama, burlesque show, charade, cliff hanger, closet drama, comedy drama, cosmorama, critical success, curiosity, cyclorama, daring, dash, daytime serial, demonstration, dialogue, diorama, display, documentary drama, drama, dramalogue, dramatic play, dramatic series, dramatics, duodrama, duologue, eclat, epic theater, etalage, event, exception, exhibit, exhibition, exhibitionism, experimental theater, exposition, extravaganza, eyeglasses, failure, false front, fanfaronade, figure, flair, flaunt, flaunting, flop, flourish, fool, gasser, gazingstock, georama, giveaway, glasses, happening, histrionics, hit, hit show, improvisational drama, legitimate drama, light show, manifestation, marvel, marvelment, masque, melodrama, minstrel show, miracle, miracle play, monodrama, monologue, morality, morality play, music drama, musical revue, myriorama, mystery, mystery play, nonesuch, opera, pageant, pageantry, panel show, panorama, pantomime, parade, pastoral, pastoral drama, performance, phantasmagoria, phenomenon, piece, play, playlet, pomp, presentation, problem play, prodigy, psychedelic show, psychodrama, quite a thing, quiz show, radio drama, rarity, representation, review, revue, sensation, sensational play, serial, sham, shifting scene, show, showing-off, sight, sitcom, situation comedy, sketch, skit, soap, soap opera, sociodrama, something else, specs, spectacles, splash, splurge, stage play, stage show, staginess, straight drama, stunner, success, suspense drama, tableau, tableau vivant, talk show, teleplay, television drama, television play, theater of cruelty, theatrics, total theater, variety show, vaudeville, vaudeville show, vaunt, vehicle, wonder, wonderful thing, wonderment, word-of-mouth success, work