opera
UK /ˈɒp.ə.ɹə/ · US /ˈɑp.ə.ɹə/ noun
Also a form of opus
Forms operas opere
- noun (music) A theatrical work, combining drama, music, song and sometimes dance; usually, one sung-through, based on classical music and seen as more artistic and formalized than other forms of musical theater.
- noun (music) The score for such a work.
- noun (music) The genre of such works, the art of composing operas.
- noun A building designed for the performance of such works; an opera house.
- noun A company dedicated to performing such works.
- noun (by extension) Any showy, melodramatic or unrealistic production resembling an opera.
Synonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian opera. Doublet of oeuvre, opus, and ure.
From Latin opera, plural of opus.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A drama, either tragic or comic, of which music forms an essential part; a drama wholly or mostly sung, consisting of recitative, arials, choruses, duets, trios, etc., with orchestral accompaniment, preludes, and interludes, together with appropriate costumes, scenery, and action; a lyric drama.
- noun The score of a musical drama, either written or in print; a play set to music.
Etymology [It., fr. opera work, composition, opposed to an improvisation, fr. L. opera pains work, fr. opus, operis, work, labor: cf. F. opéra. See Operate.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “opera”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details