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theater

Syllabification: (the·a·ter)
Pronunciation: /ˈTHēətər/
(also theatre)
Translate theater | into French | into German | into Spanish
Definition of theater

noun

  • a building or outdoor area in which plays and other dramatic performances are given.
  • (often the theater) the activity or profession of acting in, producing, directing, or writing plays:what made you want to go into the theater?
  • a play or other activity or presentation considered in terms of its dramatic quality:this is intense, moving, and inspiring theater
  • chiefly North American & West Indian a movie theater.
  • a room or hall for lectures, etc., with seats in tiers.
  • the area in which something happens:a new theater of war has been opened up
  • [as modifier] denoting weapons for use in a particular region between tactical and strategic:he was working on theater defense missiles

Origin:

late Middle English (originally as 'theatre'), from Old French, or from Latin theatrum, from Greek theatron, from theasthai 'behold'

Spelling help

Theater can also be spelled theatre: both are correct.

theater in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of theater in the British & World English dictionary
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