theatre

American  

[thee-uh-ter, theeuh-] / ˈθi ə tər, ˈθiə- /

noun

1. a variant of theater.

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theatre British  

/ ˈθɪətə /

noun

1. 1. a building designed for the performance of plays, operas, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a theatre ticket

   3. ( in combination )

      a theatregoer

2. a large room or hall, usually with a raised platform and tiered seats for an audience, used for lectures, film shows, etc

3. Also called: operating theatre.  a room in a hospital or other medical centre equipped for surgical operations

4. plays regarded collectively as a form of art

5. the world of actors, theatrical companies, etc

   the glamour of the theatre

6. a setting for dramatic or important events

7. writing that is suitable for dramatic presentation

   a good piece of theatre

8. the usual word for cinema

9. a major area of military activity

   the theatre of operations

10. a circular or semicircular open-air building with tiers of seats

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Etymology

Origin of theatre

C14: from Latin theātrum, from Greek theatron place for viewing, from theasthai to look at; related to Greek thauma miracle

Example Sentences

"Almost everything in that video is egregious, and awful to listen to," Dr Read, a seasoned professor of theatre with no connection to politics, told the BBC.

From BBC

The first is to make the Loading Bay a permanent "mid-scale" city centre venue, art gallery, 200-seat theatre and performance space.

From BBC

Commenting on his achievement, the theatre's artistic director, Mark Babych, described it as a "jump up and down" moment.

From BBC

Franks also works as a freelance creative consultant for various theatres, trying to help shows draw in more diverse audiences by allocating tickets to community groups.

From BBC

A new Game of Thrones play at the Royal Shakespeare Company will be a "really immersive" experience, the theatre's co-artistic director Tamara Harvey has said.

From BBC

Related Words

• theater
• troupe