amphitheater

Related to amphitheater: Flavian amphitheater

am·phi·the·a·ter

(ăm′fə-thē′ə-tər, ăm′pə-)

1. An oval or circular structure having tiers of seats rising gradually outward from a central open space or arena.

2. Geology A level area surrounded by upward sloping ground.

3. An upper, sloping gallery with seats for spectators, as in a theater or operating room.

[Middle English amphitheatre, from Latin amphitheātrum, from Greek amphitheātron : amphi-, amphi- + theātron, theater; see theater.]

am′phi·the·at′ric (-ăt′rĭk), am′phi·the·at′ri·cal adj.

am′phi·the·at′ri·cal·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

am•phi•the•a•ter

(ˈæm fəˌθi ə tər, -ˌθi^ə tər)

n.

1. an oval or round building with tiers of seats around a central open area, as those used in ancient Rome for contests and spectacles.

2. any similar place for public contests, games, performances, etc.

3. a room with tiers of seats around a central area for students and other observers.

4. a level area surrounded by rising ground.

Often, am′phi•the`a•tre.

[1540–50; < Latin amphitheātrum < Greek amphithéātron. See amphi-, theater]

am`phi•the•at′ric (-θiˈæ trɪk) am`phi•the•at′ri•cal, adj.

amphitheater

An open-air, round or oval theater with rising rows of seating.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	amphitheater - a sloping gallery with seats for spectators (as in an operating room or theater) amphitheatre gallery - narrow recessed balcony area along an upper floor on the interior of a building; usually marked by a colonnade tiered seat - seating that is arranged in sloping tiers so that spectators in the back can see over the heads of those in front dramatic art, dramaturgy, theater, theatre, dramatics - the art of writing and producing plays
	2.	amphitheater - an oval large stadium with tiers of seats; an arena in which contests and spectacles are held coliseum, amphitheatre sports stadium, stadium, arena, bowl - a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments vomitory - an entrance to an amphitheater or stadium

Translations

anfiteatro

amphitheatre

(American) amphitheater (ˈamfiθiətə(r)) noun

an oval or circular building with rows of seats surrounding a central space, used as a theatre or arena.

References in classic literature ?

We were conducted early one morning to an enormous amphitheater, which instead of having been built upon the surface of the ground was excavated below the surface.

Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill and within an hour every available part of the seating space was occupied.

View in context

On the day that Tarzan established his right to respect, the tribe was gathered about a small natural amphitheater which the jungle had left free from its entangling vines and creepers in a hollow among some low hills.

In the center of the amphitheater was one of those strange earthen drums which the anthropoids build for the queer rites the sounds of which men have heard in the fastnesses of the jungle, but which none has ever witnessed.

View in context

The sun shone somewhat to the left and behind him and brightly lit up the enormous panorama which, rising like an amphitheater, extended before him in the clear rarefied atmosphere.

From above on the left, bisecting that amphitheater, wound the Smolensk highroad, passing through a village with a white church some five hundred paces in front of the knoll and below it.

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Then he advanced slowly through the trees until he stood upon a bough overhanging one side of the amphitheater. Here he stood in silence for a moment.

Then they turned and retraced their way to the amphitheater.

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In the center of this natural amphitheater, was a little flat-topped mound of hard earth.

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When we had passed out of the amphitheater onto the great plain we saw a caravan of men and women--human beings like ourselves--and for the first time hope and relief filled my heart, until I could have cried out in the exuberance of my happiness.

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In the center of the amphitheater a man stood up and remained standing, facing the singer.

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Five thousand packed the grassy slopes of the amphitheater and swarmed inside the race track.