amphitheater

(ăm'fə-thē'ə-tər)

1. An oval or round structure having tiers of seats rising gradually outward from a central open space or arena.
2. An arena where contests and spectacles are held.
3. A level area surrounded by upward sloping ground.
4. An upper, sloping gallery with seats for spectators, as in a theater or operating room.

[Middle English amphitheatre, from Latin amphitheātrum, from Greek amphitheātron : amphi-, amphi- + theātron, theater; see theater.]

View more Science videos

For more information on amphitheater, visit Britannica.com.

1. A circular, semicircular, or elliptical auditorium in which a central arena is surrounded by rising tiers of seats.
2. (Brit.) The first section of seats in the gallery of a theater.
3. Any outdoor theater, esp. of the classical Greek type.

amphitheater

• Types of Buildings - amphitheater: roofless oval or circle with rising tiers of seats
• Theatrical Forms and Venues - amphitheater: large, esp. round, outdoor space with raised tiers of seats around a stage; originally a natural dip

Dansk (Danish)
n. - amfiteater

Français (French)
n. - amphithéâtre, arènes, cirque

Deutsch (German)
n. - Amphitheater

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - αμφιθέατρο, (ιατρ.) χειρουργείο

Italiano (Italian)
anfiteatro

Português (Portuguese)
n. - anfiteatro (m) (Arquit.)

Русский (Russian)
амфитеатр

Español (Spanish)
n. - anfiteatro

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - amfiteater

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
圆形剧场, 竞技场

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 圓形劇場, 競技場

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 원형 경기장, 계단식[좌석, 교실, 광장]

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 円形演技場, アンフィシアター

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮אמפיתיאטרון, יציע חצי-מעגלי בתיאטרון, חלל עגול גדול, מקום תחרות‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.