extravaganza
Americannoun
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a musical or dramatic composition or production, as comic opera or musical comedy, marked by a loose structure, a frivolous theme, and elaborate costuming and staging.
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any lavish or opulent show, event, assemblage, etc..
an extravaganza of new housewares on the twelfth floor.
noun
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an elaborately staged and costumed light entertainment
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any lavish or fanciful display, literary or other composition, etc
Etymology
Origin of extravaganza
1745–55; alteration of Italian ( e ) stravaganza extravagance
Explanation
Halftime at the Super Bowl, the Oscar awards ceremony, or the opera Aida performed at the Baths of Caracalla — each of these is an extravaganza, a big, splashy, extravagant entertainment or celebration. The word extravaganza comes from the Italian word estravaganza (or stravaganza), which was an elaborate literary or musical production. When the word appeared in English in the mid-18th century, English speakers turned the estra- into extra- because after all, an elaborate entertainment could certainly be called something "extra." Aida at the Baths of Caracalla, complete with horses, astonishing costumes, and faux-Egyptian temples — now that's an extravaganza.
Vocabulary lists containing extravaganza
Mardi Gras: Fun
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The Westing Game
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Warrior Girl Unearthed
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After the allegations were made against Wallace, two MasterChef celebrity Christmas specials, a Celebrity MasterChef Christmas Cook Off and a Strictly Festive Extravaganza, pulled from the BBC's festive schedule.
From BBC • Dec. 18, 2024
The restaurant hosts regular drag nights, and the event I had tickets to was advertised as a Pride Extravaganza.
From Slate • Nov. 2, 2024
His three last weekend at the Nike Extravaganza in the final seconds knocked off Los Alamitos.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2024
That would be Dr. Harold L. Cebrun, a former CIF assistant commissioner, who was honored at halftime of the West Ranch-O’Connell game with a framed plaque courtesy of Extravaganza host Mater Dei.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2023
And to be really honest, neither was I—all because of Mr. Goldman and the Long Island Shakespeare Company’s Holiday Extravaganza.
From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
