late 14c., "open air place in ancient times for viewing spectacles and plays," from Old French theatre (12c., Modern French théatre, improperly accented) and directly from Latin theatrum "play-house, theater; stage; spectators in a theater" (source also of Spanish, Italian teatro), from Greek theatron "theater; the people in the theater; a show, a spectacle," literally "place for viewing," from theasthai "to behold" (related to thea "a view, a seeing; a seat in the theater," theates "spectator") + -tron, suffix denoting place.
Meaning "building where plays are shown" is from 1570s in English. Transferred sense of "plays, writing, production, the stage" is from 1660s. Generic sense of "place of action" is from 1580s; especially "region where war is being fought" (1914). Spelling with -re arose late 17c. and prevailed in Britain after c. 1700 by French influence, but American English retained or revived the older spelling in -er.
例文
1. He became known as the enfant terrible of British theater .
彼は英国演劇界の頭痛の天才になった。
2. Theater owners lease films from film distributors.
劇場のオーナーが映画配給業者から映画をレンタルして上映している。
3.a restaurant catty-corner from the theater
劇場に斜めに面したレストラン
4.He could amuse us for hours with his stories of the theater .
彼は何時間も演劇の話をして私たちを笑わせることができる.
5.Excuse me,where is the entrance to the theater ？