spectaclespec‧ta‧cle /ˈspektəkəl/ ●○○ noun [countable] 
a very impressive show or scene: 
a multimedia dance and opera spectacle2[usually singular] an unusual or interesting thing or situation that you see or notice – used especially in order to show disapproval: The trial was turned into a public spectacle.spectacle of the spectacle of drunken young men on the streets► see thesaurus at sight3spectacles [plural] formal or old-fashioned glasses that help you see4make a spectacle of yourself to behave in an embarrassing way that is likely to make other people notice you and laugh at you
WORD ORIGINspectacle
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French, Latin spectaculum, from spectare; ➔ SPECTATOREXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- From our tent, we could see the grand spectacle of Mount Blue.
- Seeing Hank in a dress was quite a spectacle.
- She knew she was making a spectacle of herself with her childish outburst, but she couldn't seem to help herself.
- The sight of European tourists dancing in grass skirts made a bizarre spectacle.
- Visitors to London are often shocked by the spectacle of people begging in the streets.
- And these are just thoughts about the spectacles qua physical objects of a certain size and weight.
- Coming soon to a computer screen near you: full three-dimensional animation without the need for funny spectacles.
- Ginsburg has seen the Super Bowl transformed from a football game in 1967 to a full-blown media spectacle today.
- He whines that I am ruining his weekend, but is rarely displeased with the spectacle I have paid dearly for.
- The spectacle that confronted him was so overwhelming that he all but stumbled in alarm before the policeman caught and steadied him.
- To attract crowds large enough to fill up the ornate space, big spectacles were de rigueur.
THESAURUSsomething that you see
something that you see: · A herd of elephants is a magnificent sight.· Even Charles cheered up at the sight of the food.
the area you can see from a window or place, especially when it is beautiful: · The view from the top of the mountain is amazing.· The hotel has great views of Lake Windermere.· We had a good view of the firework display.
an impressive view of a very large area that stretches a long way across in front of you: · a panorama of snow-covered hills and mountains
written a view of a large area of beautiful scenery – used in written descriptions: · The road around the island offers some spectacular vistas.
what you see in a place, especially where people are moving around and doing things: · Reporters described the horrific scenes which followed the bombing.· His pictures are mainly of local scenes.
something that you see that is very unusual, surprising, or strange: · It must have been an unusual spectacle.· I leaned over the balcony to get a look at the spectacle below.
[plural] pictures or parts of a film, video etc that people can see, as opposed to the parts you can hear: · Good visuals will help keep your audience’s attention.
Longman Language Activatorsomething that you see something that you see, or when you see something: · Sunrise over the Himalayas is a magnificent sight.· It was a sight so awe-inspiring we could have stayed for hours.the sight of something (=when you see something): · I can't stand the sight of blood.at the sight of something: · Even Charles cheered up at the sight of the food.(at) first sight (=the first time you see someone or something): · When I met my husband, it was love at first sight.· It was our first sight of land after 15 months at sea.on sight (=as soon as you see someone or something): · The superintendent issued orders to shoot looters and arsonists on sight.a familiar/common sight (=something that you often see): · Homeless kids are now a familiar sight on London's streets.a sorry sight (=someone or something that makes you feel sad or sympathetic): · Gavin looked a sorry sight -- his jaw was broken, and he had a black eye.quite a sight (=used to emphasize how impressive, beautiful, funny etc something looks): · We looked at the huge crowd gathering below us. 'It's quite a sight, isn't it?'
the area you can see from a window or place, especially when it is beautiful or when you are able to see something from a place: · We lived in a town house, with a spectacular view of the East China Sea. · Is it the superb views that bring you back here each year?view of: · Edwina's office was south-facing, with a view of the lake.get/have a good view (of something) (=be able to see all of it): · We had a good view of the firework display from Ron's balcony.provide/afford/offer a view (=to have very good views -- used especially in advertisements): · The hotel is situated on a hill, providing panoramic views of the city. · The open-air terrace affords unparalleled views of the Big Apple.a room/apartment/office etc with a view: · We were very, very lucky to get an apartment with a view.· Dan was delighted to get a room with breathtaking views of the Los Angeles basin.
what you see in a place -- used especially when you are describing a place where something unusual or shocking is happening: · The village is a scene of devastation after the heavy rains.· I had to laugh at the absurdity of the scene.· Reporters described the horrific scenes which followed the bombing.scene of: · There are scenes of confusion here as refugees pour out of the city.
an impressive view of a very large area that stretches a long way across in front of you: · At sunrise, they surveyed the vast panorama of snow-covered hills and mountains.· The white limestone formed a dramatic panorama against the darkening sky.
something that you see that is very surprising, strange, or shocking: the spectacle of: · Visitors to London are often shocked by the spectacle of people begging in the streets.a strange/bizarre/tragic etc spectacle: · The sight of European tourists dancing in grass skirts made a bizarre spectacle.make a spectacle of yourself (=to do something silly, surprising, or shocking when a lot of people can see you): · She knew she was making a spectacle of herself with her childish outburst, but she couldn't seem to help herself.
designed to be seen or having a particular effect when seen: · The movie is greatly enhanced by its stunning visual effects.· Teachers have been using visual aids in the classroom for decades.· Children learn to read by interpreting visual symbols.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The trial was turned into a public spectacle.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES the unedifying spectacle of players attacking the refereeCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
The trial was turned into a public spectacle. the unedifying spectacle of players attacking the referee· The Grand National, after 154 years, is one of the greatest sporting spectacles in history.· I say my daughter keeps the place respectable by those great iron spectacles she wears.· The ceremony at Notre-Dame was one of the great royal spectacles of the sixteenth century.· The huge conglomerates that assemble on such occasions provide us with some of the greatest spectacles in the animal world.
· He had made a public spectacle of them both.· Second, television does not turn trials into a public event but into a public spectacle.· We long ago ceased to enjoy hanging as a public spectacle.· They were not, as Ionce thought, mere executions but genuine public spectacles.· Hangings were henceforth carried out behind prison walls; the public spectacle which executions had provided came to an end.
· He must have been very shortsighted for I remember the way in which he always peered through his very thick spectacles.· The second feature you noticed was his thick spectacles which then made you think he might be an academic or doctor.· It also wore a youthful face, the greater part of which lurked behind the thick pebbled spectacles of the seriously myopic.· And a short chubby woman with thick pebble-glass spectacles, Mary Dunn, mingled with the crowd.· His pale blue eyes peered anxiously at Vic through thick rimless spectacles.
NOUN· Although spectacle lenses will correct errors, they can not replace vision that does not exist.· Each spectacle lens then filters one image out, based on its color or polarity.
VERB· The site manager himself, assisted by a worker, was pulling the rope and enjoying the spectacle thoroughly.· The hills had now come into view, and I enjoyed the grand spectacle of Mount Blue ahead.· His pain, a round, red, throbbing presence, sat beside him at the window enjoying the spectacle.· They court death and we enjoy the spectacle so we reward them for it.· Biff had drawn up a stool nearby and was drinking from a hip flask enjoying the spectacle.· For the next two hours he relaxed and enjoyed the spectacle that unwound before his eyes.· The village is to enjoy the spectacle of me, pushing an old woman in a bath-chair.· Anybody who could afford a ticket could soon enjoy a spectacle that had once been the exclusive privilege of the upper classes.
· You and your so-called friends make spectacles of yourselves at the party, litter the garden with debris and vandalise this fountain.· She did not rant or rave or otherwise make a spectacle of herself.· You're simply making a spectacle of yourself.· Wilkinson's fourth case was that of an optical company, making spectacle lenses.· However, it was obvious that she was intent on making a spectacle of herself.· He had made a public spectacle of them both.· Beta is a wide pair; it makes up a lovely spectacle in binoculars, and is in a rich field.· They didn't make a spectacle of themselves.
· Value added tax has been put on spectacles and surgical boots, which we would never have dreamed of doing.· Stark put on his spectacles and examined it.· Inside the house the old man put on spectacles and read the invitation carefully.
· Miss Honey put down her pencil and removed her spectacles and began to polish the lenses with a piece of tissue.· Ask your partner to remove spectacles, earrings, necklaces or anything that may impede the massage.
· From a place on the shady side I watched the most forlorn spectacle I have ever seen.· They were joined by a growing audience who left the pub to watch the spectacle, jeering and shouting and offering encouragement.· Trainloads of spectators lined the banks to watch the awesome spectacle of a river of ice racing relentlessly toward the Falls.
· He wore spectacles and a blue sweater and carried a clipboard.· Because if you did not wear spectacles the brightness and the glory of the Emerald City would blind you.· Mr Thompson's son Brian said his father should have worn spectacles, but refused to.· Even those who live in the City must wear spectacles night and day.· He wore pince-nez spectacles, a round-ended stiff collar, and a moustache.· He wore sinister rimless spectacles, and had the potential to become frightening.· A thin man wearing half-moon spectacles and a dark blue three-piece suit made his way over towards my board.· Thousands, branded parasitical intellectuals merely because they spoke a foreign language or wore spectacles, were systematically liquidated.
· But Bobby just sat there with a wolfish grin as guests moved in to witness the spectacle.· Thousands camped around the village to witness the spectacle.· With the winter season at its height, thousands crowded into the two Niagara communities to witness the spectacle.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► spectaclesPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1- Jody made a complete spectacle of herself by getting drunk at the wedding.
- However, it was obvious that she was intent on making a spectacle of herself.
- She did not rant or rave or otherwise make a spectacle of herself.
- They didn't make a spectacle of themselves.
- You're simply making a spectacle of yourself.
- You and your so-called friends make spectacles of yourselves at the party, litter the garden with debris and vandalise this fountain.
- Eventually Johnny drew him to one side with a shock-haired young reporter who sported horn-rimmed glasses and a velvet bow-tie.
- He had thick horn-rimmed glasses, a heavy shadow and rather bad teeth.
a very impressive show or scene: a multimedia dance and opera spectacle2[usually singular] an unusual or interesting thing or situation that you see or notice – used especially in order to show disapproval: The trial was turned into a public spectacle.spectacle of the spectacle of drunken young men on the streets► see thesaurus at sight3spectacles [plural] formal or old-fashioned glasses that help you see4make a spectacle of yourself to behave in an embarrassing way that is likely to make other people notice you and laugh at you