Agency Dictionary
amphitheatre
nounPronunciation: /ˈæm.fɪˌθɪə.tər/
In Portuguese: anfiteatro
History & CivilizationsWhat does “amphitheatre” mean?
An oval or circular open-air venue with tiered seating used in the Roman world for gladiatorial contests, beast hunts, and public executions.
Etymology
From Latin amphitheatrum, from Greek amphitheatron, formed from amphi ("on both sides, around") and theatron ("place for viewing"), from theasthai ("to watch"). The name describes a building with seats all around the arena, as if two theatres were joined face to face. The word came into English in the late Middle Ages. Amphitheatre is the British spelling and amphitheater the American one.
Usage note
Today the word is also used loosely for any open-air venue with rising seats, even when the seating forms only a half circle.
Synonyms
- arena
- stadium
- coliseum
Often confused with
- theatre
- The ancient theatre was a half circle facing a stage and was used for plays; the amphitheatre enclosed an arena on all sides and was used for combats and shows.
Word family
- theatre
- theatrical
- amphitheatrical
Usage examples
Amphitheatres like the Colosseum held tens of thousands of spectators.
Concept
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
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