Lewis & Short

spectācŭlum (contr. spectāclum, Prop. 4 (5), 8, 21 and 56), i, n. [specto], a show, sight, spectacle (class.).

  1. I. In gen.: lepidum spectaculum, Plaut. Poen. 1, 1, 81: superarum rerum atque caelestium, Cic. N. D. 2, 56, 140: bis terque mutatae dapis, Hor. Epod. 5, 34: potius quam hoc spectaculum viderem, Cic. Mil. 38, 103: capere oblatae spectacula praedae, Ov. M. 3, 246; cf. id. ib. 7, 780: scorti procacis, Liv. 39, 43: Euripi, id. 45, 27: non hoc ista sibi tempus spectacula poscit, Verg. A. 6, 37: spectaclum ipsa sedens, i. e. exposed to public view, in the sight of all, Prop. 4 (5), 8, 21: neque hoc parentes Effugerit spectaculum, Hor. Epod. 5, 102.
    Esp. in the phrases: spectaculum (alicui) praebere, spectaculum (spectaculo) esse alicui: circuitus solis et lunae spectaculum hominibus praebent, Cic. N. D. 2, 62, 155; so, praebere, Liv. 45, 28: praebent spectacula capti, Ov. A. A. 2, 581: o spectaculum illud hominibus luctuosum, cedere e patriā servatorem ejus, manere in patriā perditores! Cic. Phil. 10, 4, 8; cf. id. Corn. 1, § 19: homini non amico nostra incommoda spectaculo esse nolim, id. Att. 10, 2, 2: insequitur acies ornata armataque, ut hostium quoque magnificum spectaculum esset, Liv. 10, 40 fin.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. A. Lit., in the theatre, circus, etc., a public sight or show, a stageplay, spectacle (cf.: munus, ludi, fabula): spectacula sunt tributim data, Cic. Mur. 34, 72: apparatissimum, id. Phil. 1, 15, 36: gladiatorium, Liv. 39, 42: gladiatorum, id. 28, 21 fin.; Plin. 2, 26, 25, § 96: circi, Liv. 7, 2: scenae, Ov. A. A. 3, 351: ludorum, Suet. Aug. 14: athletarum, id. ib. 44; id. Ner. 12: naumachiae, id. Caes. 44: nondum commisso spectaculo, Liv. 2, 36, 1: interesse spectaculo, id. 2, 38, 4: inter matutina harenae spectacula, Sen. Ira, 3, 43, 2: meridianum, id. Ep. 7, 3.
    2. B. Transf., the place whence plays are witnessed, the seats of the spectators, seats, places in the theatre, the amphitheatre: spectacula ruunt, Plaut. Curc. 5, 2, 47: ex omnibus spectaculis plausus est excitatus, Cic. Sest. 58, 124: resonant spectacula plausu, Ov. M. 10, 668: loca divisa patribus equitibusque, ubi spectacula sibi quisque facerent, Liv. 1, 35, 8: spectaculorum gradus, Tac. A. 14, 13: spectaculis detractus et in harenam deductus, Suet. Calig. 35; id. Dom. 10.
      1. 2. In gen., the theatre: ingressum spectacula, Suet. Calig. 35: in caelum trabibus spectacula textis surgere, Calp. Ecl. 7, 23.
      2. 3. The spectators: spectacula tantum este, viri, Sil. 2, 230: virtutis, id. 8, 556.
    3. C. A wonder, miracle: spectacula septem, the seven wonders of the world: in septem spectaculis nominari, Vitr. 2, 8, 11: numerari inter septem omnium terrarum spectacula, Gell. 10, 18, 4.