writer is difficult. b names of substances and materials, such as wine, silk, coal, gold, sugar: She gave us beer and cheese; I drank the beer but I didn't eat the cheese. c names of times after at, by, on: at sunset I by night I on Monday (Compare during the night I on the Monday after Christmas.) d names of meals after at, before, during, for and the verb have: after/at/before/during breakfast I coffee for breakfast I When do you have breakfast? (Compare The breakfast she gave us was good.) 2 The is not used a with most names of diseases: He's got smallpox. b in many fixed expressions such as: by car, at school, in bed, in prison, arm in arm, face to face, husband and wife, from beginning to end c after [T+obj+n ] verbs describing a change of state: They made him President. I They crowned him king. I They appointed her captain. d when someone is directly addressed: Come quickly, doctor! 3 Names and titles either include the as part of the name, or they do not. These must be learnt. But note a Some ordinary words can be used like names. Compare the father of a family and I'll ask Father! b Names can be used like ordinary words. Compare London is a big city and the London of the 1890s (=London during this period).
the² adv 1 (used in comparisons, to show that two things happen together): The more he eats, the fatter he gets. | 'When do you want this?' 'The sooner the better.' 2 (used in comparisons, to show that someone or something is more, less etc, than before): He's had a holiday, and looks (all) the better for it. | She tried to explain, but I was none the wiser. (=I still did not understand) 3 (used for showing that someone or something is more than any other): He likes you the best. | I had the greatest (=extreme) difficulty understanding her.
theatre
The theater AmE /'θɪətər/ n 1 [C; the] (a special building or place for) the performance of plays. Going to the theatre is very expensive in London, less so in other areas, and is thought by some people to be an activity for clever people, except if one goes to see a musical. In the US it is also thought very expensive, especially in New York, and Americans visiting Britain often go to the theatre because they find it cheaper than in the US: London's theatres | an evening at the theatre | an open-air theatre | Do you enjoy the theatre? 2 [(the]U] the work or activity of people who write or act in plays: modern Russian theatre | She's been in the theatre all her life. → compare DRAMA 3 [C] | usually auditorium AmE — a room with rows of seats one above the other, where people can watch or listen to the stated activity: a lecture theatre 4 [C] a scene of important military events: the Pacific theatre of World War II 5 [C] BrE || operating room, OR AmE — an OPERATING THEATRE: a theatre nurse 6 [C] especially AustrE & AmE a CINEMA
hea-tre-go-er BrE || theatergoer AmE /'θiata,gauar ||-tar-/
n a person who regularly goes to the theatre
Theatre in the 'round n a theatre with the stage in the middle and the people sitting on (almost) all sides
he·at·ri·cal /θi'ætrikəl/ adj 1. of or for the theatre: a theatrical company 2 usually derog (of a person or their behaviour) showy and unnatural; HISTRIONIC ︷ly /kli/ adv
the·at·ri·cals /θi'ætrikəlz/ n [P] stage performances: amateur theatricals
the·at·rics /θiˈætrɪks/ n [P] especially AmE behaviour that is very loud and noticeable, and is intended to get people's attention
Thebes /θiːbz/ 1 an ancient city in southern Egypt, where there are ancient TEMPLES (=religious buildings) and TOMBS (=places where dead people are buried) 2 an ancient city in eastern Greece, northwest of Athens, where OEDIPUS was king according to old Greek stories. It was destroyed by ALEXANDER THE GREAT. —Theban /ˈθiːbən/ n, adj
thee /điː/ pron old use (object form of thou) you
theft /θeft/ n [C;U] (an example of) the crime of taking someone else's property from a place; stealing: The building has been insured against fire and theft.
thegn /θeɪn/ n a THANE
their /ðər; strong ðear/ determiner [possessive form of they] ↑ of or belonging to them: They washed their faces. | He was surprised by their interest. | They spend all their time together. | Has anyone here lost their watch? 2 (with general meaning): Everyone wants what is theirs by right. → compare HIS; see EVERYONE (USAGE)
theirs /ðeazl/ðearz/ pron [possessive form of they] 1 of those people, animals, or things already mentioned: I do my work, and they do theirs. (=their work) | Our dog is a male, theirs is a female/theirs are females. | She's a friend of theirs. 2 (with general meaning): Everyone wants what is theirs by right. → compare HIS
the·is·m /'θiːɪzəm/ n [U] the belief that a personal God exists and that he has made his existence known through the Bible, church, dreams etc → compare DEISM —ist n —istic /θiː'ɪstɪk/ adj —istically /kli/ adv
Thel·ma and Lou·ise /,θelmə ənd lu'i:z/ (1991) a US movie about two women who kill a man because he tries to force one of them to have sex with him. They then drive across the US having exciting adventures, and they discover that they enjoy the freedom of not having any relationships with men, and they enjoy living as criminals.
them¹ /ðəm; strong ðem/ pron object form of THEY: Where are my shoes? I can't find them. | He bought them drinks. | He bought drinks for them. → see ME (USAGE)
them² /ðem/ determiner nonstandard those: Did you see them shoes she was wearing?
theme¹ /θiːm/ n 1 the subject of a talk, piece of writing etc: His stories are linked by the theme of self-discovery. | The theme of this year's journalism conference is the question of censorship. 2 a short simple tune on which a piece of music is based 3 AmE a short piece of writing, especially done for school: Your homework tonight is to write a two-page theme on the subject of pollution. 4 theme pub/restaurant etc a PUB or restaurant that is decorated in the style of a particular country, period in history etc: an Irish theme pub with fake road signs pointing to Irish towns → see also THEME PARTY
theme² v [T] to make (things) appear to be similar or all on one theme: a set of themed attractions, all based on aspects of the Wild West
'theme park n an outdoor area containing amusements, such as games of skill and big machines to ride on, which are sometimes all based on a single subject (e.g. space travel) → see also ALTON TOWERS, DISNEYLAND
'theme, party n a party at which everyone has to dress in a way that is connected with a particular subject: Sylvia's having a Titanic theme party on New Year's Eve.
'theme song also 'theme tune n a song or tune often repeated during a musical play, cinema picture etc → compare SIGNATURE TUNE
them·selves /ðəm'selvz/ pron 1 (reflexive form of they): They're enjoying themselves. | They bought themselves a new car. | They're pleased with themselves. | I hope nobody will hurt themselves 2 (strong form of they): They built the house themselves. 3 (in) their usual state of mind or body: They soon came to themselves. (=regained consciousness) | They don't seem to be feeling themselves this morning. (=feeling as they usually do) 4 (all) by themselves alone; without help: They did it all by themselves. 5 in themselves without