Standard Lemma guide

proscenium

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /pɹəʊˈsiː.ni.əm/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /pɹoʊˈsiː.ni.əm/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The stage area between the curtain and the orchestra.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The stage area immediately in front of the scene building.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The row of columns at the front of the scene building, at first directly behind the circular orchestra but later upon a stage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A proscenium arch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

the wall that separates the stage from the auditorium in a modern theater

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: proscenium wall

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wall

6

noun

Meaning 6

the part of a modern theater stage between the curtain and the orchestra (i.e., in front of the curtain)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: apron, forestage

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stage

History

Etymology

From Latin proscaenium (“in front of the scenery”), from Ancient Greek προσκήνιον (proskḗnion), from πρό (pró, “before”) + σκηνή (skēnḗ, “scene building”).

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: авансце́на (avanscéna) — modern theatre: stage area between the curtain and the orchestra
  • Catalan: prosceni — modern theatre: stage area between the curtain and the orchestra
  • Danish: proscenium — modern theatre: stage area between the curtain and the orchestra
  • Greek: προσκήνιο (proskínio) — modern theatre: stage area between the curtain and the orchestra
  • Māori: tuaaroaro — modern theatre: stage area between the curtain and the orchestra
  • Polish: proscenium — modern theatre: stage area between the curtain and the orchestra
  • Polish: przedscenie — modern theatre: stage area between the curtain and the orchestra
  • Polish: awanscena — modern theatre: stage area between the curtain and the orchestra
  • Russian: авансце́на (avanscéna) — modern theatre: stage area between the curtain and the orchestra
  • Spanish: proscenio — modern theatre: stage area between the curtain and the orchestra
  • Tagalog: prosenyo — modern theatre: stage area between the curtain and the orchestra
  • Catalan: prosceni — ancient theatre: stage area immediately in front of the scene building
  • Danish: proscenium — ancient theatre: stage area immediately in front of the scene building
  • Greek: προσκήνιο (proskínio) — ancient theatre: stage area immediately in front of the scene building
  • Ancient Greek: προσκήνιον (proskḗnion) — ancient theatre: stage area immediately in front of the scene building
  • Latin: proscaenium — ancient theatre: stage area immediately in front of the scene building
  • Polish: proscenium — ancient theatre: stage area immediately in front of the scene building
  • Russian: проске́ниум (proskénium) — ancient theatre: stage area immediately in front of the scene building
  • Catalan: prosceni — ancient theatre: row of columns at the front the scene building
  • German: Bühnenfassade — ancient theatre: row of columns at the front the scene building
  • Greek: προσκήνιο (proskínio) — ancient theatre: row of columns at the front the scene building
  • Ancient Greek: προσκήνιον (proskḗnion) — ancient theatre: row of columns at the front the scene building