theatre
Definition extracted from en.wiktionary.org

English

Etymology

From Middle English theater, theatre, from Old French theatre, from Latin theatrum, from Ancient Greek θέατρον (théatron, a place for viewing), from θεάομαι (theáomai, to see, watch, observe).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈθiː.ə.tə/, /ˈθɪə.tə/, (somewhat dated) /θiˈɛt.ə/, (obsolete) /θiˈeɪ.tə/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈθi(ə)tɚ/, (sometimes) /ˈθɪə.tɚ/,
  • (Canada, Southern American English) IPA(key): /ˈθi(ə)tɚ/, /ˈθi.eɪ.tɚ/
  • (New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈθiətə/, ,
  • Rhymes: (US, Canada, Southern American English) -iːtə(ɹ), -iːətə(ɹ), (UK, somewhat dated) -ɛtə
  • Others:
  • Hyphenation: thea‧tre
  • Hyphenation: the‧a‧tre

Noun

theatre (countable and uncountable, plural theatres)

  1. (chiefly Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK) Alternative spelling of theater
  2. (Canada, rarely Australia and New Zealand) A cinema; movie theatre.

Usage notes