spectacle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a blunder that makes you look ridiculous

   used in the phrase `make a spectacle of' yourself

2. 2
   noun

   something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)

   the tragic spectacle of cripples trying to escape

3. 3
   noun

   An exciting or extraordinary scene, exhibition, performance etc.

   The horse race was a thrilling spectacle.

4. 4
   noun

   An embarrassing or unedifying scene or situation.

   He made a spectacle out of himself.

5. 5
   noun

   Attributive form of spectacles.

   Some very interesting relics of Adam and Eve were shown us, that were brought from America; such as a fine-tooth comb, made of thorns, a part of a pair of leather spectacle frames, without glasses, a boot jack made of ebony, and a set of pawpaws of props, with the backs filled with a hard substance, resembling lava.

6. 6
   noun

   an elaborate and remarkable display on a lavish scale

7. 7
   noun

   The brille of a snake.

8. 8
   noun

   A frame with different coloured lenses on a semaphore signal through which light from a lamp shines at night, often a part of the signal arm.

Etymology

From Middle English spectacle, from Middle French spectacle, from Latin spectāculum (“a show, spectacle”), from spectō (“to see, behold”), frequentative of speciō (“to see”). See species. Doublet of spectaculum.