noun
theater
THEE-uh-tuh
noun
1
A building where plays, films, or other performances are staged for an audience.
"We got tickets to see a musical at the theater downtown."
"The old theater was renovated with new seating and lighting."
2
Drama or performance as an art form.
"She studied theater in college."
3
A specific region or area where major events, especially military operations, take place.
"The Pacific was a major theater of operations in World War II."
How to Use Theater
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA building for watching performances, the art of performance itself, or (in a military sense) a region of conflict.
UK vs US
This is the American spelling; British English uses "theatre."
Easily confused with
theatre
Word Forms
theaters plural
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We got tickets to see a musical at the _____ downtown.
Etymology
From Greek théatron, "a place for viewing," from theáomai, "to watch."