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Synonyms

comic opera

1 American  

noun

  1. a diverting opera with spoken dialogue and a happy ending.

  2. the tradition or genre of such operas.


comic-opera 2 American  
[kom-ik-op-er-uh, -op-ruh] / ˈkɒm ɪkˈɒp ər ə, -ˈɒp rə /

adjective

  1. comically vainglorious; having farcically self-important aspects.

    a comic-opera army, proud in its ceremonial splendor but inept on the battlefield.


comic opera British  

noun

  1. a play largely set to music, employing comic effects or situations See also opéra bouffe opera buffa

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of comic opera

First recorded in 1905–10

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.

Hemingway once wrote, “And Barcelona. You should see Barcelona. It is all still comic opera… Barcelona makes you laugh.”

From Salon

He has many more wild dreams — to write a comic opera, to make a French record, possibly to score a film.

From Los Angeles Times

Opera prefaced it with a negligible short comic opera by Ullmann.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2014, the estate blocked Cooper’s attempt to develop a show out of a lost comic opera by Chandler, which Cooper had discovered.

From Los Angeles Times

He wrote his last complete comic opera for Yaw’s voice, as the lead in “The Rose of Persia.”

From Los Angeles Times