THEATER

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does theater mean? 

• THEATER (noun)
  The noun THEATER has 3 senses:

1. a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented

2. the art of writing and producing plays

3. a region in which active military operations are in progress

  Familiarity information: THEATER used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THEATER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

house; theater; theatre

Context example:

the house was full

Hypernyms ("theater" is a kind of...):

building; edifice (a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place)

Meronyms (parts of "theater"):

box office; ticket booth; ticket office (the office where tickets of admission are sold)

tiered seat (seating that is arranged in sloping tiers so that spectators in the back can see over the heads of those in front)

theater stage; theatre stage (a stage in a theater on which actors can perform)

standing room (room for passengers or spectators to stand)

stage (a large platform on which people can stand and can be seen by an audience)

parquet circle; parterre (seating at the rear of the main floor (beneath the balconies))

orchestra pit; pit (lowered area in front of a stage where an orchestra accompanies the performers)

orchestra (seating on the main floor in a theater)

greenroom (a backstage room in a theater where performers rest or have visitors)

dressing room (a room in which you can change clothes)

circle; dress circle (a curved section or tier of seats in a hall or theater or opera house; usually the first tier above the orchestra)

parquet (seating on the main floor between the orchestra and the parquet circle)

Domain category:

dramatic art; dramatics; dramaturgy; theater; theatre (the art of writing and producing plays)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "theater"):

arena theater; theater in the round (a theater arranged with seats around at least three sides of the stage)

cinema; movie house; movie theater; movie theatre; picture palace (a theater where films are shown)

dinner theater; dinner theatre (a theater at which dinner is included in the price of admission)

home theater; home theatre (television and video equipment designed to reproduce in the home the experience of being in a movie theater)

little theater; little theatre (a small theater for experimental drama or collegiate or community groups)

music hall; vaudeville theater; vaudeville theatre (a theater in which vaudeville is staged)

opera; opera house (a building where musical dramas are performed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The art of writing and producing plays

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

dramatic art; dramatics; dramaturgy; theater; theatre

Hypernyms ("theater" is a kind of...):

communicating; communication (the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information)

Meronyms (parts of "theater"):

dramatic composition; dramatic work (a play for performance on the stage or television or in a movie etc.)

Domain member category:

support (play a subordinate role to (another performer))

star (be the star in a performance)

appear (appear as a character on stage or appear in a play, etc.)

co-star (be the co-star in a performance)

ham; ham it up; overact; overplay (exaggerate one's acting)

underact; underplay (act (a role) with great restraint)

house; theater; theatre (a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented)

upstage (at or toward the rear of the stage)

downstage (at or toward the front of the stage)

enter (come on stage)

stooge (act as the stooge)

act; play; playact; roleplay (perform on a stage or theater)

booking clerk; ticket agent (someone who sells tickets (e.g., theater seats or travel accommodations))

place; seat (a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane))

flies ((theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains))

dramatic irony ((theater) irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play)

closed-circuit television (a television system that is not used for broadcasting but is connected by cables to designated monitors (as in a factory or theater))

amphitheater; amphitheatre (a sloping gallery with seats for spectators (as in an operating room or theater))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "theater"):

stage (the theater as a profession (usually 'the stage'))

Derivation:

theatrical (suited to or characteristic of the stage or theater)

theatrical (of or relating to the theater)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A region in which active military operations are in progress

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

field; field of operations; theater; theater of operations; theatre; theatre of operations

Context example:

he served in the Vietnam theater for three years

Hypernyms ("theater" is a kind of...):

region (a large indefinite location on the surface of the Earth)

Meronyms (parts of "theater"):

combat area; combat zone (a military area where combat forces operate)

Domain category:

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

Holonyms ("theater" is a part of...):

theater of war; theatre of war (the entire land, sea, and air area that may become or is directly involved in war operations)

 Context examples 

I heard one of the young men tell another that he knew I'd been an actress, in fact, he thought he remembered seeing me at one of the minor theaters.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A dozen theaters, if we may.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

And go to the theater, truly?

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

They shopped, walked, rode, and called all day, went to theaters and operas or frolicked at home in the evening, for Annie had many friends and knew how to entertain them.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

My very best go-to-concert-and-theater bonnet.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

They went to the theater with us, and we did have such a good time, for Frank devoted himself to Flo, and Fred and I talked over past, present, and future fun as if we had known each other all our days.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I know! I know! You're going to the theater to see the Seven Castles! she cried, adding resolutely, and I shall go, for Mother said I might see it, and I've got my rag money, and it was mean not to tell me in time.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Being still too young to go often to the theater, and not rich enough to afford any great outlay for private performances, the girls put their wits to work, and necessity being the mother of invention, made whatever they needed.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

At the Kings' she daily saw all she wanted, for the children's older sisters were just out, and Meg caught frequent glimpses of dainty ball dresses and bouquets, heard lively gossip about theaters, concerts, sleighing parties, and merrymakings of all kinds, and saw money lavished on trifles which would have been so precious to her.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I really feel like a dissipated London fine lady, writing here so late, with my room full of pretty things, and my head a jumble of parks, theaters, new gowns, and gallant creatures who say Ah! and twirl their blond mustaches with the true English lordliness.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)