spectacular

From Latin spectaculum (“a sight, show”) + -ar

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /spɛkˈtæk.jʊ.lə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /spɛkˈtæk.jə.lɚ/
• Rhymes: -ækjələ(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: spec‧tac‧u‧lar

spectacular (comparative more spectacular, superlative most spectacular)

1. Amazing or worthy of special notice.

   The parachutists were spectacular.

2. (dated) Related to, or having the character of, a spectacle or entertainment.

   the merely spectacular

   • 1681, George Hickes, “A Sermon Preached before the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of London”:

     The like clamour, and outcry, the Rabble of the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles made againſt Polycarp Biſhop of Smyrna, at the time of his Martyrdom. crying out againſt him to the Governour, that he ſhould caſt him to the Lyons, and when he anſwered them he could not, becauſe the Spectacular ſports were concluded, then they cry’d out, Burn him, burn him, juſt as the Jews cryed out againſt Chriſt to Pilate, Crucify him, crucify him.

   • 1910, August 21, “Andre Tridon”, in Europe Flirts with Argentina to Win Her Rich Trade‎:

     Those apparently insignificant events which really make history are seldom featured in the press; the merely spectacular too frequently crowds the essential out of the public sheets.

3. Relating to spectacles, or glasses for the eyes.

• spectacularly
• unspectacular

• spectacle
• species
• speculate

• spectacular in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• spectacular in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

spectacular (plural spectaculars)

1. A spectacular display.
   • 2010, "Under the volcano", The Economist, 16 Oct 2010:

     Though business has more or less held up so far, a series of drug-related spectaculars sparked an exodus of the city's upper class this summer.