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

Ahead of her premiere, she expressed excitement for briefly substituting concerts with theatre performances.

From BBC

"It was a very small theatre, and when dad heard her laugh, he was like, 'There's sunshine coming out of the crowd'. He knew right then, 'This is my wife'."

From BBC

In one of Harvard's lecture theatres, the women's rugby captain Maya Learned put on a video of a United States' match.

From BBC

Users urge each other to "moderate expectations", warning that packed theatres and viral buzz may be inflating the experience.

From BBC

Hearn said the venue was "no longer fit for purpose" but added the World Snooker Tour ideally "want to stay" at the Sheffield theatre.

From BBC

Related Words

• theater
• troupe