adj. & n.
adj. 1 of or for the theatre; of acting or actors. 2 (of a manner, speech, gesture, or person) calculated for effect; showy, artificial, affected.
n. (in pl.) 1 dramatic performances (amateur theatricals). 2 theatrical actions. theatricalism n. theatricality n. theatricalize v.tr. (also -ise). theatricalization n. theatrically adv.
[ LL theatricus f. Gk theatrikos f. theatron THEATRE ]