amphitheatre
/ˈamfɪθiːətə
/(US amphitheater)
noun
1(Especially in Greek and Roman architecture) an open, circular or oval building with a central space for the presentation of dramatic or sporting events surrounded by tiers of seats for spectators: the opera was performed in the Roman amphitheatre...
- The Colosseum was the greatest building in Ancient Rome but much smaller amphitheatres were built in Roman Britain and gladiatorial fights may have occurred in these.
- Eventually there were well over 250 amphitheatres in the Roman empire - so it is no surprise that the amphitheatre and its associated shows are the quintessential symbols of Roman culture.
- The elliptical amphitheatre could have seated between 4,500 and 9,000 spectators.
1.1A semicircular seating gallery in a theatre: vouchers to reduce the price of tickets in the amphitheatre...
- It chronicled her designs for city plazas that feature fountains and tiled walkways; for arenas and semi-circular amphitheaters in public parks; and for benches, monoliths, pyramids, pools and private bathhouses.
- So they moved into the stage left dressing room off of the outdoor amphitheatre.
- It ended, in fact, on the day of graduation for the Fall term, and forced the ceremonies from the outdoor amphitheater with scenic backdrop into the cafeteria, which had memories of its own.
Origin
Late Middle English: via Latin from Greek amphitheatron, from amphi 'on both sides' + theatron (see theatre).
amphibian from mid 17th century:
Amphibians live both in water and on land, and it is the idea of ‘living in both’ that gives us the word, which comes from Greek amphi ‘both’ (also found in amphitheatre (Late Middle English) from amphi ‘on both sides’ and theatron ‘place for beholding’) and bios ‘life’, source of words such as biology (early 19th century) and antibiotic (mid 19th century). Before it was applied specifically to frogs, toads, and newts, amphibian simply meant ‘having two modes of existence, of doubtful nature’.