diva

[ dee-vuh, -vah ]

/ ˈdi və, -vɑ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR diva ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural di·vas, di·ve [dee-ve] /ˈdi vɛ/.

a distinguished female singer; prima donna.

Origin of diva

1880–85; < Italian < Latin dīva, feminine of dīvus god; cf. divine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for diva

People scream, the orchestra stops playing, and the stage manager whisks the diva into the wings.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“She not only won the biggest singing competition in the world, her song “Diva” became a trans anthem,” said Kallai.
Trans in the Holy Land: ‘Marzipan Flowers,’ Tal Kallai, and the Shattering of Israel’s LGBT Taboos|Itay Hod|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Grande, who like Cyrus is 21, had been called a diva and was upset about it.
Ariana Grande, This Is How to Be a Diva|Tim Teeman|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The problem is Grande has now painted herself into a bit of a nice-girl corner, which is a place no diva ever wants to be.
Ariana Grande, This Is How to Be a Diva|Tim Teeman|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Yet the biggest change might be the curious disappearance of the diva, a type of singer who reigned supreme during the 1990s.
Mariah Carey Is the Last of the Traditional Divas|Phoebe Robinson|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Diva was, in the meantime, winning golden opinions on all sides.
A Siren|Thomas Adolphus Trollope
But dear Diva would have to see the new frock to-morrow afternoon, at the latest, when she came to the bridge-party.
Miss Mapp|Edward Frederic Benson
Signor Graziano rose, a little stiffly, and led the pretty withered little Diva to the piano.
Tales from Many Sources|Various
To me her scales and exercises sounded more entrancing than any diva's rendering of masterpieces, I think.
A Top-Floor Idyl|George van Schaick
“Dear Diva; she loves a good gossip,” said Miss Mapp effusively.
Miss Mapp|Edward Frederic Benson

British Dictionary definitions for diva

diva

/ (ˈdiːvə) /

noun plural -vas or -ve (-vɪ)

a highly distinguished female singer; prima donna

Word Origin for diva

C19: via Italian from Latin: a goddess, from dīvus divine

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

Word Origin and History for diva

diva

"distinguished woman singer, prima donna," 1883, from Italian diva "goddess, fine lady," from Latin diva "goddess," fem. of divus "divine (one);" see divine (adj.).

diva

noun, plural di·vas, di·ve [dee-ve] /ˈdi vɛ/.

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Origin of diva

Examples from the Web for diva

diva

noun plural -vas or -ve (-vɪ)

Word Origin for diva

diva