WordWeb Online

1. (dramaturgy) a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
   "the theatre was full";
   - theater [US], house
    
2. The art of writing and producing plays
   - dramaturgy, dramatic art, dramatics, theater [US]
    
3. (military) a region in which active military operations are in progress
   "he served in the Vietnam theatre for three years"; "the army was in the theatre of operations awaiting action";
   - field, field of operations, theater [US], theater of operations [US], theatre of operations
    
4. [Brit] A room in a hospital equipped for the performance of surgical operations
   - operating room [N. Amer], OR [N. Amer], operating theater [US], operating theatre, surgery

1. A dramatic surprise
    
2. A highly successful theatrical production
    
3. A sensational bit of stagecraft

Derived forms: theatres

Type of: building, communicating, communication, edifice, hospital room, region, stagecraft, staging, surprise, theatrical production, turn-up [Brit, informal]

Part of: production, theater of war [US], theatre of war

Encyclopedia: Theatre