theatrical

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /θiˈætɹɪkəl/ UK /θiːˈætɹɪkəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #13326

Meanings

1

adj
Relating to the theatre or acting on a stage.

The school put on its first theatrical production this year.
2

adj
Exaggerated and showy, as if performing for an audience.

He gave a theatrical sigh and threw up his hands.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to the theatre or... dramatic scenic

2 adj · exaggerated and showy, as... dramatic affected stagy

Word family

Forms theatricals

Derived forms antitheatricalhypertheatricalmetatheatricalnontheatricalovertheatricalparatheatricalsemitheatricaltheatricalisetheatricalismtheatricalitytheatricalizationtheatricalize

Appears in

Phrases (4)

See all

theatrical producer
a person who organizes and finances the production of stage performances

Adjective + noun
theatrical entrepreneur
a person who organizes and finances business ventures in live theatre

Adjective + noun
theatrical pose
an exaggerated body position that resembles a stage performance

Adjective + noun
theatrical trappings
the costumes, props, and other outward features associated with stage performance

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Latin theātricus + -al. By surface analysis, theatre + -ical.

Topics

Describing Qualities Theater & Performance Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# theatrical

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /θiˈætɹɪkəl/
**IPA (UK):** /θiːˈætɹɪkəl/
**Frequency rank:** 13326

## Meanings
1. Relating to the theatre or acting on a stage.
2. Exaggerated and showy, as if performing for an audience.

## Examples
- The school put on its first theatrical production this year.
- He gave a theatrical sigh and threw up his hands.

## Derived Forms
- antitheatrical
- hypertheatrical
- metatheatrical
- nontheatrical
- overtheatrical
- paratheatrical
- semitheatrical
- theatricalise
- theatricalism
- theatricality
- theatricalization
- theatricalize

## Etymology
From Latin theātricus + -al. By surface analysis, theatre + -ical.

## AI Etymology
Theatrical comes from Latin theātricus + -al. By surface analysis, theatre + -ical. The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as antitheatrical, hypertheatrical, metatheatrical, and nontheatrical. In present use it covers relating to the theatre or acting on a stage and exaggerated and showy, as if performing for an audience.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Theater & Performance
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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