spectacle

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Something that can be seen or viewed, especially something of a remarkable or impressive nature.
2. n. A public performance or display, especially one on a large or lavish scale.
3. n. A regrettable public display, as of bad behavior: drank too much and made a spectacle of himself.
4. n. A pair of eyeglasses.
5. n. Something resembling eyeglasses in shape or suggesting them in function.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. An exhibition; exposure to sight or view; an open display; also, a thing looked at or to be looked at; a sight; a gazing-stock; a show; especially, a deplorable exhibition.
2. n. Specifically, a public show or display for the gratification of the eye; something designed or arranged to attract and entertain spectators; a pageant; a parade: as, a royal or a religious spectacle; a military or a dramatic spectacle.
3. n. A looking-glass; a mirror.
4. n. A spyglass; a speculum.
5. n. plural A pair of lenses set in a frame adjusted to the eyes, to correct or improve defective vision; also, sometimes, a similar frame with pieces of plain white or colored glass to protect the eyes from glare or dust: commonly called a pair of spectacles. The frame was in former times usually of horn or tortoise-shell, and afterward of silver; it is now usually of steel or of gold. It is made up of the “bridge,” “rims” (or frames of the lenses), “bows,” and “sides” or “temples”; but the bows are now often omitted. The frame is so constructed and adjusted as to rest on the nose and ears and hold the lenses in the proper position. Spectacles which are supported on the nose only, by means of a spring, are commonly called eye-glasses. Spectacles with convex lenses are for the aged, or far-sighted; and spectacles with concave lenses are for the near-sighted. In both cases the value of spectacles depends upon their being accurately adapted to the person's vision. Spectacles with colored lenses, as green, blue, neutral-tint, or smoke-color, are used to protect the eyes from a glare of light. Divided spectacles have each lens composed of two parts of different foci neatly united, one part for observing distant objects, and the other for examining objects near the eye. Another kind, called periscopic spectacles, are intended to allow the eyes considerable latitude of motion without fatigue. The lenses employed in this case are of either a meniscus or a concavo-convex form, the concave side being turned to the eye. Spectacles with glazed wings or frames partly filled with crape or wire gauze are used to shield the eyes from dust, etc.
6. n. plural Figuratively, visual aids of any kind, physical or mental; instruments of or assistance in seeing or understanding; also, instruments or means of seeing or understanding otherwise than by natural or normal vision or perception: as, rose-colored spectacles; I cannot see things with your spectacles.
7. n. plural In zoology, a marking resembling a pair of spectacles, especially about the eyes: as, the spectacles of the cobra. See cut under cobra-de-capello.
8. n. A form of spectacles having in each bow two half glasses differing in power or character; divided spectacles. See def. 5.
9. n. plural Signal-glasses of varying color, held in a metal frame suggesting spectacles, to be moved in front of the lenses of signal-lights at night: usually of red and green if there are two. Also used, in the singular, for one frame with its colored glass.
10. n. A frame with two bow-shaped handles for carrying well-boring tools.

Wiktionary

1. n. Something exhibited to view; usually, something presented to view as extraordinary, or as unusual and worthy of special notice; a remarkable or noteworthy sight; a show; a pageant; a gazingstock.
2. n. An optical instrument consisting of two lenses set in a light frame, and worn to assist sight, to obviate some defect in the organs of vision, or to shield the eyes from bright light.
3. n. An aid to the intellectual sight.
4. n. A spyglass; a looking-glass.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Something exhibited to view; usually, something presented to view as extraordinary, or as unusual and worthy of special notice; a remarkable or noteworthy sight; a show; a pageant; a gazingstock.
2. n. A spy-glass; a looking-glass.
3. n. An optical instrument consisting of two lenses set in a light frame, and worn to assist sight, to obviate some defect in the organs of vision, or to shield the eyes from bright light.
4. n. Fig.: An aid to the intellectual sight.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
2. n. an elaborate and remarkable display on a lavish scale
3. n. a blunder that makes you look ridiculous; used in the phrase `make a spectacle of' yourself