opera

1 of 2

plural of opus

opera

2 of 2

noun

op·​era ˈä-p(ə-)rə 

 Southern also  ˈä-prē

1

: a drama set to music and made up of vocal pieces with orchestral accompaniment and orchestral overtures (see overture entry 1 sense 2) and interludes (see interlude sense 2)

specifically : grand opera

Beethoven composed only one opera.

2

: the score (see score entry 1 sense 6) of a musical drama

The composer finished the opera in just six weeks.

3

: the performance of an opera

The opera was delayed a half hour due to technical difficulties.

also : a house where operas are performed

We'll meet you at the opera at 7 p.m.

Examples of opera in a Sentence

Noun

I am going to an opera tonight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The eclectic band includes a poet, an opera singer, a violinist, a pianist and two people who play the bandura, Ukraine’s traditional 62-string instrument that looks a bit like an oversize lute. —Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024

Red Sea Week featured A-list entertainers such as Alicia Keys, opera singer Katherine Jenkins, and comedian Chris Tucker, as well Saudi entertainers Aref Jaman, Hatoon Idrees, and Eli. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024

An opera singer dropping into resonance with her fellow singers, the audience, the moment, and delivering a transcendent performance. —Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

The Gotham Film & Media Institute said the Oscar winner will be honored for performance as the legendary, but troubled, opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larrain’s upcoming film Maria. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Italian, "work, labor, artistic production, drama set to music (originally short for opera musicale, opera in musica)," going back to Latin, "activity, effort, attention, work," collective derivative from oper-, opus "work, effort, product of labor" — more at opus

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing opera

• comic opera
• grand opera
• horse opera
• light opera
• opera buffa
• opera glass
• opera hat
• opera house
• opera seria
• soap opera
• space opera
• the opera

Kids Definition

opera

1 of 2

plural of opus

opera

2 of 2 noun

op·​era ˈäp-(ə-)rə 

1

: a play in which usually the entire text is sung with orchestral accompaniment

2

: the performance of an opera

operatic

ˌäp-ə-ˈrat-ik

adjective