opera
OP-uh-ruh
Opera (noun) means a theatrical work in which the story is told mainly through singing, with orchestral music. Example: “She sings in the chorus of an opera and rehearses every evening.”
noun
1
A theatrical work in which the story is told mainly through singing, with orchestral music.
"She sings in the chorus of an opera and rehearses every evening."
"They saw a production of "La Bohème" at the opera."
"Verdi composed some of the most famous operas ever written."
2
A building where such performances are staged; an opera house.
"We are meeting outside the opera at seven, so please don't be late."
"The old opera in the town centre has just been restored with a new roof."
"The Sydney Opera House is instantly recognizable by its shape."
How to use opera
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA staged musical drama that is sung rather than spoken, or the venue where such shows happen.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
go to the opera
opera singer
opera house
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Word forms
- Plural
- operas, opere
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She sings in the chorus of an _____ and rehearses every evening.
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian opera, literally "work" — the same root that gives us "opus" and "operate."
Synonyms
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opera house
music drama
lyric drama
Rhymes for opera
See all rhymes for opera →Frequently asked questions
What does “opera” mean?
The word “opera” means a theatrical work in which the story is told mainly through singing, with orchestral music. In plain terms, a staged musical drama that is sung rather than spoken, or the venue where such shows happen.
How do you pronounce “opera”?
“Opera” is pronounced OP-uh-ruh (/ˈɑp.ə.ɹə/ in IPA).
How do you use “opera” in a sentence?
Here is “opera” used in a sentence: “They saw a production of "La Bohème" at the opera.”
What part of speech is “opera”?
“Opera” is a noun.
Where does the word “opera” come from?
The word “opera” comes from Italian. Borrowed from Italian opera, literally "work" — the same root that gives us "opus" and "operate.".
Is “opera” a common word?
“Opera” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “opera” have?
“Opera” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a theatrical work in which the story is told mainly through singing, with orchestral music.
What is the difference between an opera and a musical?
In an opera the story is told mainly through singing accompanied by orchestral music, so the singing carries almost the entire drama. A musical typically mixes spoken dialogue with songs, whereas opera relies far more heavily on continuous sung performance.
Does opera refer to the show or the building?
Opera can mean either. It usually refers to the theatrical work told through singing, but it can also name the building where such performances are staged, also called an opera house.
What is the plural of opera?
The everyday plural is operas, used for more than one operatic work. The Italian-derived form opere also exists in specialist musical contexts, but operas is standard in ordinary English.
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