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opera

1 American  
[op-er-uh, op-ruh] / ˈɒp ər ə, ˈɒp rə /

noun

  1. an extended dramatic composition, in which all parts are sung to instrumental accompaniment, that usually includes arias, choruses, and recitatives, and that sometimes includes ballet.

  2. the form or branch of musical and dramatic art represented by such compositions.

  3. the score or the words of such a composition.

  4. a performance of one.

    to go to the opera.

  5. (sometimes initial capital letter) an opera house or resident company.

    the Paris Opera.
opera 2 American  
[oh-per-uh, op-er-uh] / ˈoʊ pər ə, ˈɒp ər ə /

noun

Chiefly Music.

  1. a plural of opus.

opera 1 British  
/ ˈɒprə, ˈɒpərə /

noun

  1. an extended dramatic work in which music constitutes a dominating feature, either consisting of separate recitatives, arias, and choruses, or having a continuous musical structure

  2. the branch of music or drama represented by such works

  3. the score, libretto, etc, of an opera

  4. a theatre where opera is performed

"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
opera 2 British  
/ ˈɒpərə /

noun

  1. a plural of opus

"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
opera Cultural  

  1. A musical drama that is totally or mostly sung. Aïda , Carmen, and Don Giovanni are some celebrated operas. A light, comic opera is often called an operetta.

Etymology

Origin of opera

1635–45; < Italian: work, opera < Latin, plural of opus service, work, a work, opus

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.

Some families developed close ties with political figures Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Jr., all of whom, like the museum and opera, increasingly leaned on private donors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

No soap opera can beat the Bible when it comes to mess.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

Gerald Barry is today’s rare opera composer with a draught-dry wit.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

By the time Laskin arrived at the opera reception, he had raised $2 billion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

The nurses and doctors whispered their secrets on General Hospital while the soap opera organ played a tune full of worry.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia

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.