theatre or (N American) theater /thēˈə-tər/

1. A structure, orig in the open air, for drama or other spectacles
2. A cinema (chiefly N American and Aust)
3. Any natural land formation backed by a curving hillside or rising by steps like seats of a theatre
4. A building or room, usu with tiered seats, which is adapted for lectures, anatomical or surgical demonstrations, etc
5. An operating theatre
6. A scene of action, field of operations
7. (with the) the social unit comprising actors, theatre companies, producers, etc, or its characteristic environment and conditions
8. An audience, house
9. (with the) plays or a specified group of plays, collectively
10. The writing and production of plays
11. Material or method judged by its suitability for a dramatic presentation

theˈatral adjective

theatˈrical (or rare theatˈric) adjective

1. Relating or suitable to, or savouring of, the stage, actors or acting
2. Stagy
3. Histrionic, melodramatic, exaggerated
4. Aiming at or producing dramatic effects
5. Of, in or for the cinema (esp N American)

theatˈricalism or theatricalˈity noun

Staginess, artificiality

theatricalīzāˈtion or theatricalīsāˈtion noun

theatˈricalize or theatˈricalise transitive verb

1. To adapt to dramatic representation
2. To make stagy

1. To act
2. To attend the theatre

theatˈrically adverb

theatˈricalness noun

theatˈricals plural noun

1. Dramatic performances
2. Theatrical affairs, properties or people

theatˈricism noun

Theatricality, affectation, staginess

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