Phantasmagoria

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Phantasmagoria \Phan*tas`ma*go"ri*a\, n. [NL., from Gr.
     fa`ntasma a phantasm + 'agora` an assembly, fr. 'agei`rein to
     gather: cf. F. phantasmagorie.]
     1. An optical effect produced by a magic lantern. The figures
        are painted in transparent colors, and all the rest of the
        glass is opaque black. The screen is between the


        spectators and the instrument, and the figures are often
        made to appear as in motion, or to merge into one another.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The apparatus by which such an effect is produced.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Fig.: A medley of figures; illusive images. "This mental
        phantasmagoria." --Sir W. Scott.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  phantasmagoria
       n : a constantly changing medley or real or imagined images (as
           in a dream)

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  45 Moby Thesaurus words for "phantasmagoria":
     apparition, appearance, cosmorama, cyclorama, diorama, display,
     eidolon, exhibit, exhibition, exposition, fantasy, figure, form,
     georama, idolum, image, light show, myriorama, pageant, pageantry,
     panorama, parade, phantasm, phantasma, phantom, pomp, presence,
     presentation, psychedelic show, representation, shade, shadow,
     shape, shifting scene, show, sight, spectacle, specter, stage show,
     tableau, tableau vivant, vision, waking dream, wildest dream,
     wraith