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Arena vs Theater - What's the difference?

arena | theater |

As nouns the difference between arena and theater

is that arena is an enclosed area, often outdoor, for the presentation of sporting events (sports arena) or other spectacular events; earthen area, often oval, specifically for rodeos (N. America) or circular area for bullfights (especially Hispanic America) while theater is a place or building, consisting of a stage and seating, in which an audience gathers to watch plays, musical performances, public ceremonies, and so on.

arena

English

Noun

  • An enclosed area, often outdoor, for the presentation of sporting events (sports arena) or other spectacular events; earthen area, often oval, specifically for rodeos (N. America) or circular area for bullfights (especially Hispanic America).
    • A large crowd filled the seats of the arena .
  • The building housing such an area.
    • The arena is grey with white beams.
  • (historical) The sand-covered centre of an amphitheatre where contests were held in Ancient Rome.
    • The gladiators entered the arena .
  • A realm in which important events unfold.
    • The company was a player in the maritime insurance arena .

    Anagrams

    * ----

    theater

    English

    Alternative forms

    * theatre (standard spelling in all English-speaking countries except the USA)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A place or building, consisting of a stage and seating, in which an audience gathers to watch plays, musical performances, public ceremonies, and so on.
  • * (rfdate) :
    • The theater is not merely the meeting place of all the arts, it is also the return of art to life.
  • A region where a particular action takes place; a specific field of action, usually with reference to war.
    • His grandfather was in the Pacific theater during the war.
  • A lecture theatre.
  • (medicine) An operating theatre or locale for human experimentation.
    • This man is about to die, get him into theater at once!
  • (US) A cinema.
    • We sat in the back row of the theater and threw popcorn at the screen.
  • Drama or performance as a profession or artform.
    • I worked in the theater for twenty-five years.

    Usage notes

    * The spelling (theatre) is the main spelling in British English, with (theater) being rare. * In United States English, (theater) accounts for about 80 percent of usage in the major corpus of usage, COCA.

    See also

    *

    Anagrams

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