Theater \The"a*ter\, Theatre \The"a*tre\, n. [F. th['e][^a]tre,
   L. theatrum, Gr. ?, fr. ? to see, view; cf. Skr. dhy[=a] to
   meditate, think. Cf. Theory.]
   1. An edifice in which dramatic performances or spectacles
      are exhibited for the amusement of spectators; anciently
      uncovered, except the stage, but in modern times roofed.
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   2. Any room adapted to the exhibition of any performances
      before an assembly, as public lectures, scholastic
      exercises, anatomical demonstrations, surgical operations,
      etc.
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   3. That which resembles a theater in form, use, or the like;
      a place rising by steps or gradations, like the seats of a
      theater. --Burns.
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            Shade above shade, a woody theater
            Of stateliest view.                   --Milton.
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   4. A sphere or scheme of operation. [Obs.]
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            For if a man can be partaker of God's theater, he
            shall likewise be partaker of God's rest. --Bacon.
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   5. A place or region where great events are enacted; as, the
      theater of war.
      [1913 Webster] Theatin

	

	theatre
     n 1: a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture
          shows can be presented; "the house was full" [syn: theater,
           house]
     2: the art of writing and producing plays [syn: dramaturgy, dramatic
        art, dramatics, theater]
     3: a region in which active military operations are in
        progress; "the army was in the field awaiting action"; "he
        served in the Vietnam theater for three years" [syn: field,
         field of operations, theater, theater of operations,
         theatre of operations]

	

	22 Moby Thesaurus words for "theatre":
   acting, area, arena, auditorium, coliseum, drama, dramaturgy,
   hippodrome, histrionics, melodrama, opera house, performance,
   performing, playhouse, scene, setting, show business, stagecraft,
   staginess, the boards, the stage, theatrics

	

	Theatre
   only mentioned in Acts 19:29, 31. The ruins of this theatre at
   Ephesus still exist, and they show that it was a magnificent
   structure, capable of accommodating some 56,700 persons. It was
   the largest structure of the kind that ever existed. Theatres,
   as places of amusement, were unknown to the Jews.