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parterre

American  
[pahr-tair] / pɑrˈtɛər /

noun

  1. Also called parquet circle.  the rear section of seats, and sometimes also the side sections, of the main floor of a theater, concert hall, or opera house.

  2. an ornamental arrangement of flower beds of different shapes and sizes.


parterre British  
/ pɑːˈtɛə /

noun

  1. a formally patterned flower garden

  2. the pit in a theatre

  3. another name for parquet circle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • parterred adjective

Etymology

Origin of parterre

1630–40; < French, noun use of phrase par terre on the ground. See per, terra

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The proscenium has been removed entirely and the stage brought forward 25 feet, fitted with flexible risers and parterre seating.

From Washington Post • Oct. 6, 2022

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations, was introduced from the parterre level and received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of about 3,600.

From Fox News • Mar. 15, 2022

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, was introduced from the parterre level and received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of about 3,600.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2022

“It’s this little diamond shape with a zigzag little parterre and it’s infilled with plants — many of which are roses.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 25, 2020

The “pigeon house” stood behind a locked gate, and a shallow parterre that had been somewhat neglected.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin