The difference between Show and Spectacle

When used as nouns, show means a play, dance, or other entertainment, whereas spectacle means an exciting or extraordinary scene, exhibition, performance etc.

Show is also verb with the meaning: to display, to have somebody see (something).

check bellow for the other definitions of Show and Spectacle

  1. Show as a verb (transitive):

    To display, to have somebody see (something).

    Examples:

    "The car's dull finish showed years of neglect."

    "All he had to show for four years of attendance at college was a framed piece of paper."

  2. Show as a verb (transitive):

    To bestow; to confer.

    Examples:

    "to show mercy; to show favour; lb dialectal show me the salt please"

  3. Show as a verb (transitive):

    To indicate (a fact) to be true; to demonstrate.

  4. Show as a verb (transitive):

    To guide or escort.

    Examples:

    "Could you please show him on his way. He has overstayed his welcome."

    "They showed us in."

  5. Show as a verb (intransitive):

    To be visible; to be seen; to appear.

    Examples:

    "Your bald patch is starting to show."

    "At length, his gloom showed."

  6. Show as a verb (intransitive, informal):

    To put in an appearance; show up.

    Examples:

    "We waited for an hour, but they never showed."

  7. Show as a verb (intransitive, informal):

    To have an enlarged belly and thus be recognizable as pregnant.

  8. Show as a verb (intransitive, racing):

    To finish third, especially of horses or dogs.

    Examples:

    "In the third race: Aces Up won, paying eight dollars; Blarney Stone placed, paying three dollars; and Cinnamon showed, paying five dollars."

  9. Show as a verb (obsolete):

    To have a certain appearance, such as well or ill, fit or unfit; to become or suit; to appear.

  1. Show as a noun (countable):

    A play, dance, or other entertainment.

  2. Show as a noun (countable):

    An exhibition of items.

    Examples:

    "art show; dog show'"

  3. Show as a noun (countable):

    A demonstration.

    Examples:

    "'show of force"

  4. Show as a noun (countable):

    A broadcast program/programme.

    Examples:

    "radio show; television show'"

  5. Show as a noun (countable):

    A movie.

    Examples:

    "Let's catch a show."

  6. Show as a noun:

    A project or presentation.

    Examples:

    "Let's get on with the show. Let's get this show on the road. They went on an international road show to sell the shares to investors. It was Apple's usual dog and pony show."

  7. Show as a noun (uncountable):

    Mere display or pomp with no substance. (Usually seen in the phrases "all show" and "for show".)

    Examples:

    "The dog sounds ferocious but it's all show."

  8. Show as a noun:

    Outward appearance; wileful or deceptive appearance.

  9. Show as a noun (baseball, with "the"):

    The major leagues.

    Examples:

    "He played AA ball for years, but never made it to the show."

  10. Show as a noun (mining, obsolete):

    A pale blue flame at the top of a candle flame, indicating the presence of firedamp.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Raymond"

  11. Show as a noun (archaic):

    Pretence.

  12. Show as a noun (archaic):

    Sign, token, or indication.

  13. Show as a noun (obsolete):

    Semblance; likeness; appearance.

  14. Show as a noun (obsolete):

    Plausibility.

  15. Show as a noun (medicine):

    A discharge, from the vagina, of mucus streaked with blood, occurring a short time before labor.

  1. Spectacle as a noun:

    An exciting or extraordinary scene, exhibition, performance etc.

    Examples:

    "The horse race was a thrilling spectacle."

  2. Spectacle as a noun:

    An embarrassing or unedifying scene or situation.

    Examples:

    "He made a spectacle out of himself''."

  3. Spectacle as a noun (usually, in the plural):

    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. Spectacle as a noun (figuratively):

    An aid to the intellectual sight.

  5. Spectacle as a noun (obsolete):

    A spyglass; a looking-glass.

  6. Spectacle as a noun:

    The brille of a snake.

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