soprano

[ suh-pran-oh, -prah-noh ]

noun

, plural so·pran·os.

1. the uppermost part or voice.
2. the highest singing voice in women and boys.
3. a part for such a voice.
4. a singer with such a voice.

adjective

1. of or relating to a soprano; having the compass of a soprano.

soprano

/ səˈprɑːnəʊ /

noun

1. the highest adult female voice, having a range approximately from middle C to the A a thirteenth above it
2. the voice of a young boy before puberty
3. a singer with such a voice
4. the highest part of a piece of harmony
5. 1. the highest or second highest instrument in a family of instruments
   2. ( as modifier )

      a soprano saxophone

soprano

1. The highest range of the female singing voice. ( Compare alto and mezzo soprano .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of soprano¹

1720–30; < Italian: literally, what is above, high, equivalent to sopra (< Latin suprā above) + -ano adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of soprano¹

C18: from Italian, from sopra above, from Latin suprā

Example Sentences

The soprano Margaret Truman had the seats packed at Constitutional Hall for a 1950 concert with the National Symphony Orchestra.

From TIme

Anti-hero status, as enjoyed by Tony Soprano and Walter White, is typically a male property.

From The Daily Beast

The landscape looks something like the marsh behind the Toys ‘R’ Us where Tony Soprano might bury a body in Jersey.

From The Daily Beast

Someone with a lovely soprano voice was singing me “Happy Birthday.”

From The Daily Beast

Tony Soprano used to pick up copies of it in his fictional driveway.

From The Daily Beast

How is Walter White different from someone like, say, Tony Soprano?

From The Daily Beast

Once he learnt, with his aunt, the exceedingly florid duet in Semiramide, and sang the soprano part admirably.

From Project Gutenberg

He boasted of having "made a soprano out of Zambinella" and disclosed the fact to Sarrasine that this creature was not a woman.

From Project Gutenberg

He can if he like make himself a soprano, and sing for hire;—and probably that is the real goal for him.

From Project Gutenberg

Susy Clemens went to Paris to cultivate her voice, a rare soprano, with a view to preparing for the operatic stage.

From Project Gutenberg

A splendid soprano voice was ringing through the room, singing, "Hear me, Norma."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• singer