amphitheatre

What it means

1. An open, outdoor theatre (which may be a theatre in the round, or have a stage with seating on only one side), especially one from the classical period of ancient Greece or Rome, or a modern venue of similar design.

   Ancient Roman amphitheatres were mostly oval or circular in plan, with seating tiers that surrounded the central performance area, like a modern open-air stadium.

   2 more examples

   We had previously visited the building prepared for the assemblage, which was a vast pentagonal semicircular amphitheatre of painted wood and canvas work, ...

   1816, John Cam Hobhouse Baron Broughton, The Substance of Some Letters, page 192

   The dry quarry in Shrewsbury [was] in use from at least 1445-6 [...until] 1568-9 (and perhaps beyond)[. ...] Location of this as the site of a semicircular amphitheatre [used in the 1400s and 1500s] is confirmed by the evidence, published in total for the first time in the present volume.

   1994, J. A. B. Somerset, Shropshire, University of Toronto Press, →ISBN, page 388

2. geographyA natural formation of a similar shape, where a steep mountain or slope or particular rock formation forms a partial or complete bowl, especially one used as a performance space (and possibly modified by carving out seats, etc) because the slopes naturally amplify or echo sound.

   Brecon or Aberhonddu, a typical Welsh town of 5,350 inhabitants, stands in a grand amphitheatre of hills and mountains at the confluence of the rivers Usk, Honddu, and Tarell.

   1939 September, A. F. N. Barnsdale, “The Neath & Brecon Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 188

   1 more example

   The difference between the approach to Baylen from the west and from the east, is that on the former side the traveller reaches the town through a semicircular amphitheatre of upland, while by the latter he comes up a V-shaped valley ...

   1902, Charles Oman, A History of the Peninsular War, page 188

In a sentence

Ancient Roman amphitheatres were mostly oval or circular in plan, with seating tiers that surrounded the central performance area, like a modern open-air stadium.

Where it comes from

1. Ancient Greekἀμφιθέατρον
2. Latinamphitheatrum
3. Englishamphitheatre

From Latin amphitheatrum, from Ancient Greek ἀμφιθέατρον (amphithéatron) from ἀμφί (amphí, “on both sides”) + θέᾱτρον (théātron, “theatre”).