cinema
gb/sˈɪnəmə/ us/sˈɪnəmə/
A1
English
~ 4000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Building for watching films
A place where people go to watch movies on a large screen.
Usage pattern:
to go to the cinema
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'cinema' (place) with 'movie' (the film itself). For example, saying 'I watched a cinema' is incorrect; it should be 'I watched a movie'.
Synonyms
movie theater (Commonly used in American English; 'cinema' is more British English.)
Antonyms
home viewing (Watching a film at home instead of at a public cinema.)
Collocations
go to the cinema
|cinema ticket
|cinema screen
|local cinema
Themes
entertainment
|daily life
|leisure
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We went to the cinema to see the latest action film.
- The new cinema in town has very comfortable seats.
- I usually buy popcorn when I go to the cinema.
- There is a small cinema near my house that shows independent films.
Learner examples
- We go to the cinema every Friday.
- The cinema is full tonight.
- I like the big screen at the cinema.
- She works at the cinema.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Art or business of filmmaking
The work and art of making movies.
Usage pattern:
modern [adjective] cinema
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cinema' (art form) with 'movie theater' (place). Context usually clarifies the meaning.
Synonyms
filmmaking (Focuses more on the process of creating films, whereas 'cinema' can also mean the art form as a whole.)
Antonyms
theater (stage) (Refers to live performance art rather than motion pictures.)
Collocations
world cinema
|cinema history
|cinema industry
|cinema studies
Themes
entertainment
|arts
|arts_entertainment
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Italian cinema is known for its strong storytelling traditions.
- He has been studying cinema at university.
- The festival celebrates independent cinema from around the world.
- Cinema has changed a lot since the invention of digital cameras.
Learner examples
- She loves French cinema.
- He studies cinema at school.
- Cinema is important in my country.
- I want to work in cinema.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cinema
IPA
GB/sˈɪnəmə/
US/sˈɪnəmə/
Syllables & stress
cinema (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cinema)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cinema
- Plural: cinema, cinemas
Word family
Forms
cinemas
noun
Core family
cinematic
adjective B2
Related words
cinematography
noun C1
cinematographer
noun C1
Advanced or less common
cinematically
adverb
cinematographic
adjective
Expressions
cinema screen
1/sˈɪnəmə skɹˈin/
fixed phrase
Large surface for projecting films
The big white wall or surface in a movie theater where the movie is shown.
Examples
- The cinema screen was so big that it felt like we were inside the movie.
- They cleaned the cinema screen before the first show of the day.
go to the cinema
1/ɡˈoʊ tə ðə sˈɪnəmə/
fixed phrase
Visit a cinema to watch a film
To go out to watch a movie in a public place with a big screen.
Examples
- We usually go to the cinema on Saturday nights.
- She went to the cinema with her friends after work.
world cinema
1/wˈɚld sˈɪnəmə/
fixed phrase
Films from different countries
Movies made in many different countries, not just one country like the USA.
Examples
- The festival focuses on world cinema and showcases films from over 30 countries.
- He is a fan of world cinema, especially Asian films.