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
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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.