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Definition of 'amphitheater'

amphitheater

(æmfiθɪətər )
Word forms: amphitheatersregional note:   in BRIT, use amphitheatre
countable noun
An amphitheater is a large open area surrounded by rows of seats sloping upward. Amphitheaters were built mainly in Greek and Roman times for the performance of plays.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

amphitheater in American

(ˈæmfəˌθiətər ; amˈfət hēˌətər) or ˈamphiˌtheatre (ˈæmfəˌθiətər ; amˈfət hēˌətər)
noun
1. 
a round or oval building with an open space (arena) surrounded by rising rows of seats
2. 
a scene of conflict, competition, etc.; arena
3. 
a sloping gallery in a theater
4. 
a lecture hall with a sloping gallery, esp. one for observing surgical procedures in a medical school or hospital
5. 
a level place surrounded by rising ground
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
amphitheatric (ˌamphitheˈatric) (ˌæmfəθiˈætrɪk ; amˌfət hēaˈtrik)
  adjective or ˌamphitheˈatrical
Word origin of 'amphitheater'
L amphitheatrum < Gr amphitheatron: see amphi- & theater

Example sentences containing 'amphitheater'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
In puzzlement she watched as Vandune passed through a niche in the amphitheater wall and disappeared into an alcove. Robert Silverberg MAJIPOOR CHRONICLES (1982)

Nearby words of 'amphitheater'

  • amphistomatal
  • amphistomous
  • amphistylar
  • amphitheater
  • amphitheatral
  • amphitheatre
  • amphithecia

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'A'

Related Terms of 'amphitheater'

  • amphitheater

Source

Definition of amphitheater from the Collins English Dictionary

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Scrabble score for 'amphitheater': 22
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