Definitions for spectacle
ˈspɛk tə kəlspec·ta·cle

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 3 votes

1. spectaclenoun

   something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)

   "the tragic spectacle of cripples trying to escape"

2. spectaclenoun

   an elaborate and remarkable display on a lavish scale

3. spectaclenoun

   a blunder that makes you look ridiculous; used in the phrase `make a spectacle of' yourself

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. spectaclenoun

   Something exhibited to view; usually, something presented to view as extraordinary, or as unusual and worthy of special notice; a remarkable or noteworthy sight; a show; a pageant

2. spectaclenoun

   An exciting exhibition, performance or event.

3. spectaclenoun

   An embarrassing situation

   He made a spectacle out of himself

4. spectaclenoun

   An optical instrument consisting of two lenses set in a light frame, and worn to assist sight, to obviate some defect in the organs of vision, or to shield the eyes from bright light.

5. spectaclenoun

   An aid to the intellectual sight.

6. spectaclenoun

   A spyglass; a looking-glass.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spectaclenoun

   Etymology: spectacle, Fr. spectaculum, Latin.

   1. A show; a gazing stock; any thing exhibited to the view as eminently remarkable.

   In open place produc’d they me,
   To be a publick spectacle to all. William Shakespeare, Henry VI.

   We are made a spectacle unto angels, and men. 1 Cor. iv. 9.

   2. Any thing perceived by the sight.

   Forth riding underneath the castle wall,
   A dunghill of dead carcases he spy’d,
   The dreadful spectacle of that sad house of pride. Fa. Queen.

   When pronouncing sentence, seem not glad,
   Such spectacles, though they are just, are sad. John Denham.

   3. [In the plural.] Glasses to assist the sight.

   The sixth age shifts
   Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,
   With spectacles on nose and pouch on side. William Shakespeare.

   We have helps for the sight far above spectacles and glasses. Francis Bacon.

   It is no fault in the spectacles that the blind man sees not. Joseph Glanvill, Apology.

   William Shakespeare was naturally learned: he needed not the spectacles of books to read nature; he looked inwards and found her there. John Dryden, on Dramatick Poesy.

   The first spectacle-maker did not think that he was leading the way to the discovery of new planets. Nehemiah Grew.

   This is the reason of the decay of sight in old men, and shews why their sight is mended by spectacles. Newton.

   This day, then let us not be told,
   That you are sick and I grown old;
   Nor think on our approaching ills,
   And talk of spectacles and pills. Jonathan Swift.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. spectacle

   A spectacle is an event, performance, or display that is visually striking or impressive and is typically created or presented to entertain or attract attention. It can also refer to a notable, remarkable, dramatic or unusual sight or occurrence.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Spectaclenoun

   something exhibited to view; usually, something presented to view as extraordinary, or as unusual and worthy of special notice; a remarkable or noteworthy sight; a show; a pageant; a gazingstock

2. Spectaclenoun

   a spy-glass; a looking-glass

3. Spectaclenoun

   an optical instrument consisting of two lenses set in a light frame, and worn to assist sight, to obviate some defect in the organs of vision, or to shield the eyes from bright light

4. Spectaclenoun

   fig.: An aid to the intellectual sight

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spectacle

   In general, spectacle refers to an event that is memorable for the appearance it creates. Derived in Middle English from c. 1340 as "specially prepared or arranged display" it was borrowed from Old French spectacle, itself a reflection of the Latin spectaculum "a show" from spectare "to view, watch" frequentative form of specere "to look at." The word spectacle has also been a term of art in theater dating from the 17th century in English drama.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spectacle

   spek′ta-kl, n. a sight: show, a pageant, exhibition: (pl.) a pair of lenses mounted in frames to assist the sight, aids to mental vision: a marking resembling spectacles, as in the cobra.—adjs. Spec′tacled, wearing spectacles: marked like spectacles, as the bear, cobra, &c.; Spectac′ular, marked by display.—n. Spectacular′ity.—adv. Spectac′ularly. [L. spectaculum—spectāre, -ātum, intens. of specĕre, to look at.]

Matched Categories

1. • Blunder
   • Display
   • Sight

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'spectacle' in Nouns Frequency: #2664

How to pronounce spectacle?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say spectacle in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of spectacle in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of spectacle in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of spectacle in a Sentence

1. Roger Penske:

   The health and safety of our event participants and spectators is our top priority, and we believe that postponing the event is the responsible decision with the conditions and restrictions we are facing, we will continue to focus on ways we can enhance the customer experience in the months ahead, and I'm confident we will welcome fans with a transformed facility and a global spectacle when we run the world's greatest race.

2. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown:

   The residents of Harney County have been overlooked and underserved by federal officials' response thus far, this spectacle of lawlessness must end. And until Harney County is free of it I will not stop insisting that federal officials enforce the law.

3. Tim Henman:

   Fingers crossed they will all be good enough to make the final cut and appear at this year's Champions Tennis event, i'd love to play alongside them in December. The dogs' enthusiasm and desire to fetch would certainly make it even more of a fantastic spectacle and no doubt they'd get more attention than the players.

4. Kori Schake:

   I think there has been a drop in international approval for how he’s doing, the humiliating spectacle of the U.S. abandoning Afghanistan, especially when the Biden administration wasn’t open to concerns from allies either about the policy or about its execution – really rattled allies.

5. Jose Carmo:

   It is frustrating to be so close to this spectacle and yet so far away, living in a place were we have no security, not even sewage.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=spectacle
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Spectacle
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=spectacle
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectacle
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=spectacle
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=spectacle