cyclorama

American  

[sahy-kluh-ram-uh, -rah-muh] / ˌsaɪ kləˈræm ə, -ˈrɑ mə /

noun

1. a pictorial representation, in perspective, of a landscape, battle, etc., on the inner wall of a cylindrical room or hall, viewed by spectators occupying a position in the center.

2. Theater. a curved wall or drop at the back of a stage, used for creating an illusion of unlimited space or distance in the background of exterior scenes or for obtaining lighting effects.

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cyclorama British  

/ ˌsaɪkləʊˈræmɪk, ˌsaɪkləʊˈrɑːmə /

noun

1. Also called: panorama.  a large picture, such as a battle scene, on the interior wall of a cylindrical room, designed to appear in natural perspective to a spectator in the centre

2. theatre

   1. a curtain or wall curving along the back of a stage, usually painted to represent the sky and serving to enhance certain lighting effects

   2. any set of curtains that enclose the back and sides of a stage setting

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Other Word Forms

• cycloramic adjective

Etymology

Origin of cyclorama

1830–40; cycl- + Greek ( h ) órāma view; panorama

Example Sentences

He called the “cottage industry” of allegations and conspiracy theories a “grim cyclorama of deceit and sensation” and said those promoting such tales were motived by money.

From New York Times

The word cyclorama refers to the seamless panel at the rear of stage sets, often used to provide the illusion of infinite sky.

From New York Times

The video design by Luke Halls creates a poetic cyclorama of sea and skyline that conjures history in black-and-white imagery and occasionally summons the nightmares of its characters in gory color.

From Los Angeles Times

If anything, with its mismatched props, barnyard animals and flat beige cyclorama, it depicts a group of attractive people amusingly failing to make a music video.

From New York Times

Mr. Jones said the original cyclorama was destroyed and sold for scrap in the early 1900s.

From New York Times