Definitions for Theatre
ˈθi ə tər, ˈθiə-The·atre

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

1. theater, theatre, housenoun

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

   "the house was full"

2. dramaturgy, dramatic art, dramatics, theater, theatrenoun

   the art of writing and producing plays

3. field, field of operations, theater, theater of operations, theatre, theatre of operationsnoun

   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"

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Theatrenoun

   Etymology: theatre, Fr. theatrum, Lat.

   1. A place in which shews are exhibited; a playhouse.

   This wise and universal theatre,
   Presents more woful pageants than the scene
   Wherein we play. William Shakespeare, As you like it.

   When the boats came within sixty yards of the pillar, they found themselves all bound, yet so as they might go about, so as they all stood as in a theatre beholding this light. Francis Bacon.

   2. A place rising by steps like a theatre.

   Shade above shade, a woody theatre
   Of stateliest view. John Milton.

   In the midst of this fair valley stood
   A native theatre, which rising slow,
   By just degrees o’erlook’d the ground below. Dryden.

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

1. Theatrenoun

   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. Theatrenoun

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

3. Theatrenoun

   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. Theatrenoun

   a sphere or scheme of operation

5. Theatrenoun

   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.

Matched Categories

1. • Building
   • Communication
   • Region
   • Theater
   • Theater Of War

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

   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 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. Enid Bagnold:

   The theatre is a gross art, built in sweeps and over-emphasis. Compromise is its second name.

2. Mehmet Murat ildan:

   We must always be thankful to our enemies as they teach us that the smiling face of the world is nothing but a theatre mask!

3. 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.

4. Ken Dodd:

   It’s a privilege to be asked to play here tonight on what is a very special anniversary. It is 100 years to the night since that balcony collapsed. (Addressing people in The Gods at a provincial theatre.)

5. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber:

   Not just the prince of musicals, the crowned head who directed two of the greatest productions of my career, Evita and Phantom. This wonderful man taught me so much and his mastery of musical theatre was without equal.

Popularity rank by frequency of use