Definitions for Theatre
ˈθi ə tər, ˈθiə-Theatre

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. theater, theatre, house(noun)

   a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented

   "the house was full"

2. dramaturgy, dramatic art, dramatics, theater, theatre(noun)

   the art of writing and producing plays

3. field, field of operations, theater, theater of operations, theatre, theatre of operations(noun)

   a region in which active military operations are in progress

   "the army was in the field awaiting action"; "he served in the Vietnam theater for three years"

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Theatre(noun)

   an edifice in which dramatic performances or spectacles are exhibited for the amusement of spectators; anciently uncovered, except the stage, but in modern times roofed

2. Theatre(noun)

   any room adapted to the exhibition of any performances before an assembly, as public lectures, scholastic exercises, anatomical demonstrations, surgical operations, etc

3. Theatre(noun)

   that which resembles a theater in form, use, or the like; a place rising by steps or gradations, like the seats of a theater

4. Theatre(noun)

   a sphere or scheme of operation

5. Theatre(noun)

   a place or region where great events are enacted; as, the theater of war

Freebase(3.29 / 7 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Theatre

   Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance. Elements of design and stagecraft are used to enhance the physicality, presence and immediacy of the experience. The specific place of the performance is also named by the word "theatre" as derived from the Ancient Greek θέατρον, itself from θεάομαι. Modern Western theatre derives in large measure from ancient Greek drama, from which it borrows technical terminology, classification into genres, and many of its themes, stock characters, and plot elements. Theatre scholar Patrice Pavis defines theatricality, theatrical language, stage writing, and the specificity of theatre as synonymous expressions that differentiate theatre from the other performing arts, literature, and the arts in general. Theatre today includes performances of plays and musicals. Although it can be defined broadly to include opera and ballet, those art forms are outside the scope of this article.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Theatre

   thē′a-tėr, n. a place where public representations, chiefly dramatic or musical, are seen, a play-house: any place rising by steps like the seats of a theatre: a building adapted for scholastic exercises, anatomical demonstrations, &c.: scene of action, field of operations: the drama, the stage.—adjs. Theat′ric, -al, relating or suitable to a theatre, or to actors: pompous: artificial, affected.—v.t. and v.i. Theat′ricalise, to adapt to dramatic representation: to make stagy.—ns. Theat′ricalism, Theatrical′ity, staginess, artificiality.—adv. Theat′rically, in a theatrical manner: in a manner suiting the stage.—n. Theat′ricalness.—n.pl. Theat′ricals, dramatic performances.—v.i. Theat′ricise, to play a part.—ns. Theat′ricism, theatricality, affectation, staginess; Theatromā′nia, a craze for play-going; Theat′rophone, a telephone connected with a theatre. [Gr. theatron—theaomai, I see.]

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. theatre

   The theatre symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the theatre symbol and its characteristic.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Theatre' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1799

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Theatre' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1769

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Theatre' in Nouns Frequency: #727

Anagrams for Theatre »

1. hat tree, hattree, teareth, tethera, theater, thereat

How to pronounce Theatre?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say Theatre in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Theatre in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Theatre in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of Theatre in a Sentence

1. Tallulah Bankhead:

   It's one of the tragic ironies of the theatre that only one man in it can count on steady work -- the night watchman.

2. Bertolt Brecht:

   We need a type of theatre which not only releases the feelings, insights and impulses possible within the particular historical field of human relations in which the action takes place, but employs and encourages those thoughts and feelings which help transform the field itself.

3. John F. Kennedy, 28 October 1962, after receiving word from Khrushchev that he agreed on a plan to end the Cuban Missile Crisis:

   This is the night to go to the theatre, like Abraham Lincoln.

4. Stefanie Powers:

   We're so bereft of support of theatre in this day and age.

5. Brenda Blethyn:

   I hate that people think going to the theatre is a special occasion. I wish people would treat it as normally as going to the cinema.

Images & Illustrations of Theatre

Popularity rank by frequency of use