Adjacent Words

Theatre definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

THE'ATRE, n. [L. theatrum; Gr. to see.]
1. Among the ancients, an edifice in which spectacles or shows were exhibited for the amusement of spectators.
2. In modern times, a house for the exhibition of dramatic performances, as tragedies, comedies and farces; a play-house; comprehending the stage, the pit, the boxes, galleries and orchester.
3. Among the Italians, an assemblage of buildings, which by a happy disposition and elevation, represents an agreeable scene to the eye.
4. A place rising by steps or gradations like the seats of a theater.
Shade above shade, a woody theater
Of stateliest view--
5. A place of action or exhibition; as the theater of the world.
6. A building for the exhibition of scholastic exercises, as at Oxford, or for other exhibitions.
Anatomical theater, a hall with several rows of seats, disposed in the manner of an amphitheater, and a table turning on a pivot in the middle, for anatomical demonstrations.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented; "the house was full" [syn: theater, theatre, house]
2: the art of writing and producing plays [syn: dramaturgy, dramatic art, dramatics, theater, theatre]
3: a region in which active military operations are in progress; "the army was in the field awaiting action"; "he served in the Vietnam theater for three years" [syn: field, field of operations, theater, theater of operations, theatre, theatre of operations]

Merriam Webster's

noun see theater I

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (US theater) 1 a a building or outdoor area for dramatic performances. b a cinema. 2 a the writing and production of plays. b effective material for the stage (makes good theatre). 3 a room or hall for lectures etc. with seats in tiers. 4 Brit. an operating theatre. 5 a a scene or field of action (the theatre of war). b (attrib.) designating weapons intermediate between tactical and strategic (theatre nuclear missiles). 6 a natural land-formation in a gradually rising part-circle like ancient Greek and Roman theatres. Phrases and idioms: theatre-goer a frequenter of theatres. theatre-going frequenting theatres. theatre-in-the-round a dramatic performance on a stage surrounded by spectators. theatre sister a nurse supervising the nursing team in an operating theatre. Etymology: ME f. OF t(h)eatre or f. L theatrum f. Gk theatron f. theaomai behold

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Theater The"a*ter, Theatre The"a*tre, n. [F. th['e][^a]tre, L. theatrum, Gr. ?, fr. ? to see, view; cf. Skr. dhy[=a] to meditate, think. Cf. Theory.] 1. An edifice in which dramatic performances or spectacles are exhibited for the amusement of spectators; anciently uncovered, except the stage, but in modern times roofed. 2. Any room adapted to the exhibition of any performances before an assembly, as public lectures, scholastic exercises, anatomical demonstrations, surgical operations, etc. 3. That which resembles a theater in form, use, or the like; a place rising by steps or gradations, like the seats of a theater. --Burns. Shade above shade, a woody theater Of stateliest view. --Milton. 4. A sphere or scheme of operation. [Obs.] For if a man can be partaker of God's theater, he shall likewise be partaker of God's rest. --Bacon. 5. A place or region where great events are enacted; as, the theater of war.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(theatres) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. Note: in AM, use 'theater' 1. A theatre is a building with a stage in it, on which plays, shows, and other performances take place. I worked at the Grand Theatre. N-COUNT; N-IN-NAMES 2. You can refer to work in the theatre such as acting or writing plays as the theatre. You can move up to work in films and the theatre... N-SING: the N 3. Theatre is entertainment that involves the performance of plays. 4. A theater or a movie theater is a place where people go to watch films for entertainment. (AM; in BRIT, use cinema) N-COUNT 5. In a hospital, a theatre is a special room where surgeons carry out medical operations. She is back from theatre and her condition is comfortable. = operating theatre N-COUNT: also prep N 6. A theatre of war or other conflict is the area or region in which the war or conflict is happening. The Middle East has often been a theatre of war. N-COUNT: usu sing, usu N of n

Easton's Bible Dictionary

only mentioned in Acts 19:29, 31. The ruins of this theatre at Ephesus still exist, and they show that it was a magnificent structure, capable of accommodating some 56,700 persons. It was the largest structure of the kind that ever existed. Theatres, as places of amusement, were unknown to the Jews.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

the'-a-ter (Ac 19:29,31).

See GAMES.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Playhouse. 2. Scene, stage, field, arena, seat.

Moby Thesaurus

acting, area, arena, auditorium, coliseum, drama, dramaturgy, hippodrome, histrionics, melodrama, opera house, performance, performing, playhouse, scene, setting, show business, stagecraft, staginess, the boards, the stage, theatrics