opera

¹

[ op-er-uh, op-ruh ]

noun

1. an extended dramatic composition, in which all parts are sung to instrumental accompaniment, that usually includes arias, choruses, and recitatives, and that sometimes includes ballet. Compare comic opera, grand opera.
2. the form or branch of musical and dramatic art represented by such compositions.
3. the score or the words of such a composition.
4. a performance of one:

   to go to the opera.

5. (sometimes initial capital letter) an opera house or resident company:

   the Paris Opera.

opera

²

[ oh-per-uh, op-er-uh ]

noun

, Chiefly Music.

1. a plural of opus.

opera

¹

/ ˈɒpərə /

noun

1. a plural of opus

opera

²

/ ˈɒprə; ˈɒpərə /

noun

1. an extended dramatic work in which music constitutes a dominating feature, either consisting of separate recitatives, arias, and choruses, or having a continuous musical structure
2. the branch of music or drama represented by such works
3. the score, libretto, etc, of an opera
4. a theatre where opera is performed

opera

1. A musical drama that is totally or mostly sung. Aïda , Carmen, and Don Giovanniare some celebrated operas. A light, comic opera is often called an operetta .

Word History and Origins

Origin of opera¹

1635–45; < Italian: work, opera < Latin, plural of opus service, work, a work, opus

Word History and Origins

Origin of opera¹

C17: via Italian from Latin: work, a work, plural of opus work

Example Sentences

Chief executive Jenny Mollica said Greater Manchester was “a region of limitless creative possibilities”, which would allow the company to “explore new visions for the future of opera”.

From BBC

The director’s love of opera is what makes sense of this huge, heaving epic.

From Los Angeles Times

This was particularly notable in a reading of the libretto for a proposed new opera by Ted Hearn, one of our most politically outspoken composers, based on Ursula K Le Guin’s “The Dispossessed.”

From Los Angeles Times

I wanted this vampire soap opera to be over, but we are stuck somewhere between the living and the dead.

From Salon

Elizabeth Atherton, an opera singer, said she had “no confidence” that the Welsh or UK governments were taking the matter seriously enough and said morale within the sector was "at an all-time low".

From BBC

Related Words

• act
• appearance
• behavior
• concert
• dance
• display
• drama
• play
• portrayal
• presentation
• production
• show