THEATRE


Meaning of THEATRE in English

thea ‧ tre S2 W2 BrE AmE British English , theater American English /ˈθɪətə $ -ər/ noun

[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: theatre , from Latin , from Greek theatron , from theasthai 'to watch' ]

1 . BUILDING [countable] a building or place with a stage where plays and shows are performed:

an open-air theatre (=a theatre that is outside)

the Mercury Theater

2 . PLAYS [uncountable]

a) plays as a form of entertainment:

I enjoy theater and swimming.

the theatre

He’s really interested in literature and the theatre.

Yeats’ plays are great poetry but they are not good theatre (=good entertainment) .

b) the work of acting in, writing, or organizing plays:

classes in theater and music

in the theatre

She’s been working in the theatre over thirty years.

3 . PLACE TO SEE A FILM [countable] American English a building where films are shown SYN movie theater American English , cinema British English :

‘Bambi’ was the first movie I ever saw in the theater.

4 . HOSPITAL [uncountable and countable] British English a special room in a hospital where medical operations are done SYN operating room American English

in theatre

Marilyn is still in theatre.

5 . WAR [countable] formal a large area where a war is being fought:

the Pacific theater during World War II

• • •

THESAURUS

▪ stage the raised area on which the actors, musicians etc perform:

He came on stage to rapturous applause.

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The band will appear live on stage for the first time in three years.

▪ the stalls British English , the orchestra American English the lower level of seats:

He had a seat in the stalls.

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We paid $100 for a seat in the orchestra.

▪ the circle British English , the balcony the higher level of seats:

They were sitting in the balcony.

▪ the orchestra pit the space below the stage where the musicians sit:

The actress fell into the orchestra pit.

▪ box office the place in a theatre where you buy tickets:

Collect your tickets at the box office.

▪ programme British English , program American English a small book that you buy when you go to the theatre that gives information about the play and the performers:

His name is not in the programme.

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Do you want me to buy you a program?

▪ interval British English , intermission BrE formal and American English a short period of time between the parts of a play or show when the audience can talk or have a drink:

We got a drink in the interval.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.