noun
cinema
SIHN-ih-muh
noun
1
A building where films are shown to the public.
"We went to the cinema to watch the new release."
"The local cinema was packed on opening night."
2
Films collectively, or the art and industry of filmmaking.
"She studied the history of world cinema at university."
How to Use Cinema
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the movie theatre itself, or films and filmmaking as an art form.
UK vs US
British English commonly uses "cinema" for the movie theatre; American English typically says "movie theater" and reserves "cinema" for the art form.
Common pairings
go to the cinema
world cinema
independent cinema
Word Forms
cinemas plural
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We went to the _____ to watch the new release.
Etymology
Borrowed from French cinéma, a clipping of cinématographe, coined by the Lumière brothers from Greek roots meaning "to write movement".