late 14c., "open air place in ancient times for viewing spectacles and plays," from Old French theatre (12c., Modern French théatre, improperly accented) and directly from Latin theatrum "play-house, theater; stage; spectators in a theater" (source also of Spanish, Italian teatro), from Greek theatron "theater; the people in the theater; a show, a spectacle," literally "place for viewing," from theasthai "to behold" (related to thea "a view, a seeing; a seat in the theater," theates "spectator") + -tron, suffix denoting place.
Meaning "building where plays are shown" is from 1570s in English. Transferred sense of "plays, writing, production, the stage" is from 1660s. Generic sense of "place of action" is from 1580s; especially "region where war is being fought" (1914). Spelling with -re arose late 17c. and prevailed in Britain after c. 1700 by French influence, but American English retained or revived the older spelling in -er.
雙語例句
1. He became known as the enfant terrible of British theater.
他成為英國戲劇界讓人頭痛的天才。
來自柯林斯例句
2. Theater owners lease films from film distributors.
劇院老板從電影發(fā)行商處租電影放映。
來自柯林斯例句
3. a restaurant catty-corner from the theater
斜對著劇院的餐館
來自《權威詞典》
4. He could amuse us for hours with his stories of the theater.
他能接連幾小時地為我們講戲劇故事逗我們發(fā)笑.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
5. Excuse me, where is the entrance to the theater?