Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Plural of opus.
  • noun A form of extended dramatic composition in which music is an essential and predominant factor; a musical drama, or a drama in music. ; ; ;
  • noun The score or words of a musical drama, either printed or in manuscript; a libretto.
  • noun A theater where operas are performed; an opera-house.
  • noun The administration, revenue, and property of an Italian church or parish.
  • noun Specifically, a ballad-opera (see def. 1).

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A drama, either tragic or comic, of which music forms an essential part; a drama wholly or mostly sung, consisting of recitative, arias, 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.
  • noun The house where operas are exhibited.
  • noun light, farcical, burlesque opera.
  • noun a partially inclosed portion of the auditorium of an opera house for the use of a small private party.
  • noun comic or humorous opera.
  • noun a light flannel, highly finished.
  • noun (Bot.) an East Indian plant (Mantisia saltatoria) of the Ginger family, sometimes seen in hothouses. It has curious flowers which have some resemblance to a ballet dancer, whence the popular name. Called also dancing girls.
  • noun a short telescope with concave eye lenses of low power, usually made double, that is, with a tube and set of glasses for each eye; a lorgnette; -- so called because adapted for use at the opera, theater, etc.
  • noun a gentleman's folding hat.
  • noun specifically, a theater devoted to the performance of operas.
  • noun serious or tragic opera; grand opera.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun music A theatrical work combining drama, music, song and sometimes dance.
  • noun music The score for such a work.
  • 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 resembing an opera.
  • noun A collection of work (plural of opus).

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a commercial browser
  • noun a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
  • noun a building where musical dramas are performed

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Italian opera.

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Examples

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  • The Onion Historical Archives (not really) has an article about this.

    October 7, 2008

  • When I taught music in Australian high schools for a time (1994–95) my students tended to refer to all classical music as "opera".

    I found this fascinating and probed numerous individual students in an attempt to find out why, but never really reached a satisfying conclusion.

    October 7, 2008

  • Are poets a waste? Opera!

    October 18, 2008

  • A layered French gateaux featuring almonds, coffee and chocolate.

    April 13, 2018