I.a playhouse, theatre (cf.: scena, spectaculum, ludus).
I. Lit.: “num theatrum, gymnasia, porticus, etc. ... rem publicam efficiebat?” Cic. Rep. 3, 32, 44: “theatrum ut commune sit,” id. Fin. 3, 20, 67: “castra munita ... alterā (ex parte) a theatro, quod est ante oppidum,” Caes. B. C. 2, 25; Nep. Reg. 2, 1: “populi sensus maxime theatro et spectaculis perspectus est,” Cic. Att. 2, 19, 3: “aliquid totius theatri clamore dicere,” id. ib.: “consessus theatri,” id. Tusc. 1, 16, 37: “in vacuo laetus sessor plausorque theatro,” Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 130; Ov. A. A. 1, 497: “hos arto stipata theatro Spectat Roma potens,” Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 60: “Philippus in acie tutior quam in theatro fuit,” Curt. 9, 6, 25; cf. Vitr. 5, 3, 1 sqq.; Verg. A. 1, 427; Liv. Epit. 48 fin.; Val. Max. 2, 4, 2: “exeamus e theatro,” i. e. cease to speak of actors, Cic. N. D. 3, 30, 74.—Of the Greek theatre, which served as a place for public meetings, Cic. Fl. 7, 16; Liv. 24, 39, 1; 33, 28, 4; Tac. H. 2, 80; Nep. Timol. 4, 2; Vulg. Act. 19, 29; 19, 31.—
B. Transf.
1. In gen., any open space for exhibiting martial games, Verg. A. 5, 288; 5, 664.—
2. Like our theatre, for the spectators assembled in a theatre, a theatrical audience: “frequentissimum,” Cic. Div. 1, 28, 59: “consensus theatri,” id. Phil. 1, 12, 30: “tunc est commovendum theatrum, cum ventum est ad ipsum illud Plaudite,” Quint. 6, 1, 52.—Plur.: “qui (modi) totis theatris maestitiam inferunt,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 44, 106; id. de Or. 3, 50, 196: “tota saepe theatra exclamasse barbare,” Quint. 1, 6, 45; cf.: “spissa theatra,” Hor. Ep. 1, 19, 41.—
II. Trop., a place of exhibition, theatre, stage, for any public act: “nullum theatrum virtuti conscientia majus est,” Cic. Tusc. 2, 26, 64: “magno theatro (ea familiaritas) spectata est,” openly, publicly, id. Fam. 12, 29, 1; cf.: “quasi in aliquo terrarum orbis theatro versari,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 14, § 35; id. Brut. 2, 6: “in theatro terrarum orbis esse,” Curt. 9, 6, 21: “optimus quisque praeceptor frequentiā gaudet ac majore se theatro dignum putat,” Quint. 1, 2, 9.