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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary opera
opera plural of opus
op·era \\ˈä-p(ə-)rə, Southern also ˈä-prē\\ noun ETYMOLOGY Italian, work, opera, from Latin, work, pains; akin to Latin oper-, opus — more at operate DATE 1644 1. a drama set to music and made up of vocal pieces with orchestral accompaniment and orchestral overtures and interludes; specifically : grand opera 2. the score of a musical drama 3. the performance of an opera; also : a house where operas are performed English Etymology opera "a drama sung," 1644, from It. opera, lit. "a work," from L. opera"work, effort" (L. plural regarded as fem. sing.), secondary (abstract) noun from operari "to work," from opus (gen. operis) "a work" (see opus). Defined in "Elson's Music Dictionary" as, "a form of musical composition evolved shortly before 1600, by some enthusiastic Florentine amateurs who sought to bring back the Greek plays to the modern stage." "No good opera plot can be sensible. ... People do not sing when they are feeling sensible." [W.H. Auden, 1961]As a branch of dramatic art, it is attested from 1759. First record of opera glass "small binoculars for use at the theater" is from 1738. Soap opera is first recorded 1939, as a disparaging reference to daytime radio dramas sponsored by soap manufacturers. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 opera opera / 5CprE; NAmE 5B:prE / noun1. [C, U] a dramatic work in which all or most of the words are sung to music; works of this type as an art form or entertainment 歌剧；歌剧剧本；歌剧艺术: Puccini's operas 普契尼的歌剧 to go to the opera 去看歌剧 an opera singer 歌剧演员 light / grand opera 轻/大歌剧 ⇨ see also soap opera 2. [C] a company that performs opera ; a building in which operas are performed 歌剧团；歌剧院: the Vienna State Opera 维也纳国家歌剧院 • op·er·at·ic / 7CpE5rAtik; NAmE 7B:p- / adj.: operatic arias / composers 歌剧咏叹调/作曲家 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English opera noun ADJ. comic, grand, light VERB + OPERA compose, write OPERA + NOUN singer, star | company | house | season | buff, lover • Note at PERFORMANCE (for more verbs) Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged Search result show the entry is found in: light opera , or oat opera , or opera buffa , or opera glass , or opera hat , or opera house , or opera omnia , or opera pink , or opera pump , or opera seria , or opera slipper , or ballad opera , or soap opera , or space opera , or comic opera , or english opera , or grand opera , or horse opera opera I. ope·ra \ˈōpərə, ˈäp-\ plural of opus II. op·era \ˈäp(ə)rə\ noun (-s) Etymology: Italian, work, opera, from Latin, work, pains; akin to Latin oper-, opus work — more at operate 1. : a drama in which music is the essential factor comprising songs with orchestral accompaniment (as recitative, aria, chorus) and orchestral preludes and interludes — compare music drama 2. : the score of a musical drama 3. a. : the performance of an opera or a house where operas are performed < a season of opera > < heard it at the opera > b. : an organization that produces and performs operas 4. : musical drama as a form of art < the origin of opera > < French opera > 5. [by shortening] a. : opera pump b. : opera slipper 6. : a showy unrealistic literary or theatrical production — see horse opera, soap opera, space opera III. opera adjective : used or suitable for use at or in an opera < opera chairs > especially : of a formal style suitable for wear at the opera < an opera cloak > |
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