- 1[countable, uncountable] 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 Puccini’s operas to go to the opera an opera singer light/grand opera see also soap opera Wordfinderoperaaria, chorus, coloratura, diva, libretto, opera, orchestra pit, recitative, score, surtitles Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivecomic, grand, light, … verb + operacompose, write, sing, … opera + nounsinger, star, composer, … See full entry See related entries: Styles of music
- 2[countable] a company that performs opera; a building in which operas are performed the Vienna State Opera Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivecomic, grand, light, … verb + operacompose, write, sing, … opera + nounsinger, star, composer, … See full entry Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Italian, from Latin, literally ‘labour, work’.
Check pronunciation: opera
