aria

¹

[ahr-ee-uh, air-ee-uh]

noun

1. an air or melody.

2. an elaborate melody sung solo with accompaniment, as in an opera or oratorio.

Aria

²

[ahr-ee-uh, uh-rahy-uh]

noun

Classical Mythology.

1. a nymph, the mother of Miletus, by Apollo.

-aria

³

1. a suffix occurring in scientific terms of Latin origin, especially in names of biological genera and groups.

   filaria.

aria

/ ˈɑːrɪə /

noun

1. an elaborate accompanied song for solo voice from a cantata, opera, or oratorio See also da capo

aria

1. A piece of music for one voice (or occasionally two voices) in an opera, oratorio, or cantata. In contrast with recitative singing, arias are melodious; in contrast with ordinary songs, arias are usually elaborate.

Some composers, such as Richard Wagner, have felt that arias interrupt the action of opera too much and hence have written operas without them.

Word History and Origins

Origin of aria¹

From Italian, dating back to 1735–45; air ¹

Origin of aria²

< Latin: feminine singular or neuter plural of -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of aria¹

C18: from Italian: tune, _air