theatrical

(t̸hē atri kəl)

adjective

  1. having to do with the theater, the drama, a play, actors, etc.
  2. characteristic of the theater; dramatic; esp. (in disparagement), melodramatic, histrionic, showy, or affected
  3. designating or of a film, usually a feature (), produced for first exhibition in a commercial theater as distinguished from one made for showing first on TV, as home video, etc.

Origin: < LL theatricus (< Gr theatrikos) + -al

Also, for 1 and 2, theatric

Related Forms:

See theatrical in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Of, relating to, or suitable for dramatic performance or the theater.
  2. Marked by exaggerated self-display and unnatural behavior; affectedly dramatic.
noun
  1. Stage performances or a stage performance, especially by amateurs. Often used in the plural.
  2. theatricals Affectedly dramatic gestures or behavior; histrionics.

Related Forms:

  • the·atˌri·calˈi·ty (-kălˈĭ-tē), the·atˈri·cal·ness (-kəl-nĭs) noun
  • the·atˈri·cal·ly adverb

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