operetta

[ op-uh-ret-uh ]

/ ˌɒp əˈrɛt ə /

noun

a short opera, usually of a light and amusing character.

Nearby words

opercle, operculate, operculitis, operculum, opere citato, operetta, operon, operose, opers, opgefok, ophelia

Origin of operetta

1760–70; < Italian, diminutive of opera opera¹

Related forms

op·er·et·tist, noun

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

Examples from the Web for operetta

He acted upon it, and when he had been some months in Milan, wrote an operetta, which had a very favourable reception.
Frederic Chopin, v. 1 (of 2)|Moritz Karasowski
The slight voice of the ordinary singer of operetta is insufficient for the part.
Musical Memories|Camille Saint-Sans
Die Jger und das Waldmdchen, operetta in one act, music by Duni.
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume I (of 3)|Alexander Wheelock Thayer
I'm surprised to hear that she is going to enter the try-out, considering it's Laurie's operetta.
Marjorie Dean|Pauline Lester

If art consists in that, then is a ballet or an operetta art?
The Kingdom of God is Within You, What is Art|Lyof N. Tolstoi

British Dictionary definitions for operetta

operetta

/ (ˌɒpəˈrɛtə) /

noun

a type of comic or light-hearted opera

Derived Forms

operettist, noun

Word Origin for operetta

C18: from Italian: a small opera 1

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

Culture definitions for operetta

operetta

Comic or lighthearted operas of the kind written by Gilbert and Sullivan. Operettas generally have a substantial amount of spoken (not sung) dialogue.