aria
[ ahr-ee-uh, air-ee-uh ]
/ ˈɑr i ə, ˈɛər i ə /
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noun
an air or melody.
an elaborate melody sung solo with accompaniment, as in an opera or oratorio.
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Origin of aria
From Italian, dating back to 1735–45; see origin at air1
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH aria
area, ariaOther definitions for aria (2 of 3)
Aria
[ ahr-ee-uh, uh-rahy-uh ]
/ ˈɑr i ə, əˈraɪ ə /
noun Classical Mythology.
a nymph, the mother of Miletus, by Apollo.
Other definitions for aria (3 of 3)
-aria
a suffix occurring in scientific terms of Latin origin, especially in names of biological genera and groups: filaria.
Origin of -aria
<Latin: feminine singular or neuter plural of -ārius-ary
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use aria in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for aria
aria
/ (ˈɑːrɪə) /
noun
an elaborate accompanied song for solo voice from a cantata, opera, or oratorioSee also da capo
Word Origin for aria
C18: from Italian: tune, air
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Cultural definitions for aria
aria
[ (ahr-ee-uh) ]
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.
notes for aria
Some composers, such as Richard Wagner, have felt that arias interrupt the action of opera too much and hence have written operas without them.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.