amphitheater
AM-fih-thee-uh-ter
/ˈæmfɪˌθiːətər/
A circular or oval open-air building with tiers of seats surrounding a central arena.
Unlike a standard theater, which is semi-circular, an amphitheater is 'double-sided' or fully circular.
The story behind the word. The name literally means 'theater on both sides'. The Romans created the first amphitheaters by essentially joining two semi-circular Greek theaters together to form a complete circle.
Word relationships
- arena: An arena is the central stage area, while the amphitheater includes the seating and the entire building.
- stadium: A stadium is usually for sports and can be any shape, while an amphitheater is specifically circular or oval.
- closet: A closet is a tiny, enclosed space, the opposite of a vast, open amphitheater.
Commonly confused with
- theater: A Greek theater is usually a semi-circle built into a hillside; an amphitheater is a full circle.
Collocations
- Roman amphitheater
- natural amphitheater
- outdoor amphitheater
Example sentences
- "The gladiators entered the amphitheater to the roar of fifty thousand spectators." Describing Roman entertainment.
- "The amphitheater was the very heart of Roman social life, where the classes mingled to watch the games." A real citation about ancient architecture.
Memory hook
'Amphi' means 'both' (like an amphibian lives in both water and land). An amphitheater is a theater on 'both' sides. Amphi = Around / Both sides.
When not to use
Do not use 'amphitheater' for a modern indoor stadium unless it specifically follows the circular, tiered design.
Fun facts
- The Colosseum in Rome is the most famous amphitheater, but there are over 200 Roman amphitheaters still standing today.
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