θɪˈætrɪkəl adj. & n. --adj. 1 of or
for the theatre; of
acting or actors. 2 (of a
manner,
speech,
gesture, or person)
calculated for
effect;
showy,
artificial,
affected. --n. (in pl.) 1
dramatic performances (amateur theatricals). 2 theatrical actions. øøtheatricalism n. theatricality n. theatricalize v.tr. (also -ise). theatricalization n. theatrically adv. [LL theatricus f. Gk theatrikos f. theatron THEATRE]