spectacle

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun Something that can be seen or viewed, especially something of a remarkable or impressive nature.
• noun A public performance or display, especially one on a large or lavish scale.
• noun A regrettable public display, as of bad behavior.
• noun A pair of eyeglasses.
• noun Something resembling eyeglasses in shape or suggesting them in function.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun 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.
• noun A frame with two bow-shaped handles for carrying well-boring tools.
• noun 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.
• noun 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.
• noun A looking-glass; a mirror.
• noun A spyglass; a speculum.
• noun 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.
• noun 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.
• noun 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.
• noun A form of spectacles having in each bow two half glasses differing in power or character; divided spectacles. See def. 5.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun 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.
• noun obsolete A spy-glass; a looking-glass.
• noun 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.
• noun Fig.: An aid to the intellectual sight.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun 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
• noun An exciting exhibition, performance or event.
• noun An embarrassing situation
• 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.
• noun figuratively An aid to the intellectual sight.
• noun obsolete A spyglass; a looking-glass.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

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