meyerhold: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/Very LowFormal, Academic, Technical (Theatre Studies, Performing Arts)
Quick answer
What does “meyerhold” mean?
A surname, specifically referring to the influential Russian and Soviet theatre director, actor and theorist Vsevolod Meyerhold (1874–1940).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surname, specifically referring to the influential Russian and Soviet theatre director, actor and theorist Vsevolod Meyerhold (1874–1940).
Used attributively or adjectivally to describe his revolutionary theatrical style, techniques, theories, or practitioners influenced by him (e.g., Meyerholdian, Meyerhold's system).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences. The spelling is standardised. Pronunciation may have a slight regional variation in vowel quality.
Connotations
Highly specific and identical across both variants: connotes avant-garde theatre, biomechanics, constructivist staging, political theatre, and a historical figure who was executed under Stalin.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech. Used with identical, very low frequency in academic and theatre-related contexts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “meyerhold” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun]the [Meyerhold] methoda [Meyerhold]-inspired productionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meyerhold” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The production had a distinctly Meyerholdian aesthetic, using stark platforms and exaggerated movement.
American English
- Her approach to physical comedy is very Meyerholdian, focusing on precise, mechanized gestures.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in theatre, drama, and performance studies to discuss historical figures, acting theory, and stagecraft.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered.
Technical
Core term in theatre directing, actor training (biomechanics), and scenography history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meyerhold”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meyerhold”
- Misspelling: 'Meyerhold' as 'Meyerhold', 'Mayerhold'.
- Mispronouncing the first syllable as /meɪ/ instead of /maɪə/ or /maɪər/.
- Using it as a general adjective without the '-ian' suffix (e.g., 'a Meyerhold style' is acceptable, but 'a Meyerholdian style' is more standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency proper noun, almost exclusively used in academic or professional theatre contexts.
The standard adjectival form is 'Meyerholdian' (e.g., a Meyerholdian approach). Using 'Meyerhold's' attributively is also possible (e.g., Meyerhold's techniques).
He developed 'biomechanics,' a radical actor training system emphasizing physical precision, and pioneered constructivist stage design, breaking away from naturalism.
In theatre studies contexts, using just the surname 'Meyerhold' is standard and sufficient, as he is the preeminent figure with that name in the field.
A surname, specifically referring to the influential Russian and Soviet theatre director, actor and theorist Vsevolod Meyerhold (1874–1940).
Meyerhold is usually formal, academic, technical (theatre studies, performing arts) in register.
Meyerhold: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪəˌhəʊld/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪərˌhoʊld/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'He made actors HOLD strange MYrrh-like poses' – connecting 'Meyer' to the aromatic resin and 'hold' to the physicality of his biomechanics.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEYERHOLD IS A LABORATORY FOR THEATRE (experimentation, construction, engineering of performance).
Practice
Quiz
What is Meyerhold most associated with?