Performance vs. Spectacle — What's the Difference?

A performance is an act of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function.

In general, spectacle refers to an event that is memorable for the appearance it creates. Derived in Middle English from c.

The act of performing or the state of being performed.

Something that can be seen or viewed, especially something of a remarkable or impressive nature.

The act or style of performing a work or role before an audience.

A public performance or display, especially one on a large or lavish scale.

The way in which someone or something functions

A regrettable public display, as of bad behavior

A presentation, especially a theatrical one, before an audience.

A pair of eyeglasses.

Something performed; an accomplishment.

Something resembling eyeglasses in shape or suggesting them in function.

(Linguistics) One's actual use of language in actual situations.

An exciting or extraordinary scene, exhibition, performance etc.

The act of performing; carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action.

An embarrassing or unedifying scene or situation.

That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; especially, an action of an elaborate or public character.

An optical instrument consisting of two lenses set in a light frame, worn to assist sight, or to protect the eyes from bright light.

(arts) A live show or concert.

(obsolete) A spyglass; a looking-glass.

The amount of useful work accomplished estimated in terms of time needed, resources used, etc.

The brille of a snake.

(linguistics) The actual use of language in concrete situations by native speakers of a language, as opposed to the system of linguistic knowledge they possess (competence), cf. linguistic performance.

(rail transport) A frame with different coloured lenses on a semaphore signal through which light from a lamp shines at night, often a part of the signal arm.

The act of performing; the carrying into execution or action; execution; achievement; accomplishment; representation by action; as, the performance of an undertaking of a duty.

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.

That which is performed or accomplished; a thing done or carried through; an achievement; a deed; an act; a feat; esp., an action of an elaborate or public character.

A spy-glass; a looking-glass.

A dramatic or musical entertainment;

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.

The act of performing; of doing something successfully; using knowledge as distinguished from merely possessing it;

Fig.: An aid to the intellectual sight.

The act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment;

Something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight);

Process or manner of functioning or operating;

An elaborate and remarkable display on a lavish scale

Any recognized accomplishment;

A blunder that makes you look ridiculous; used in the phrase `make a spectacle of' yourself