soprano

[suh-pran-oh, -prah-noh]

noun

plural

sopranos 

1. the uppermost part or voice.

2. the highest singing voice in women and boys.

3. a part for such a voice.

4. a singer with such a voice.

adjective

1. of or relating to a soprano; having the compass of a soprano.

soprano

/ səˈprɑːnəʊ /

noun

1. the highest adult female voice, having a range approximately from middle C to the A a thirteenth above it

2. the voice of a young boy before puberty

3. a singer with such a voice

4. the highest part of a piece of harmony

5. 1. the highest or second highest instrument in a family of instruments

   2. ( as modifier )

      a soprano saxophone

soprano

1. The highest range of the female singing voice. (Compare alto and mezzo soprano.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of soprano¹

1720–30; < Italian: literally, what is above, high, equivalent to sopra (< Latin suprā above) + -ano adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of soprano¹

C18: from Italian, from sopra above, from Latin suprā

Example Sentences

It includes a wordless soprano in tribute to Nellie Melba, the Australian soprano.

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Alder was the night's star soprano, promising "an uplifting evening" as an antidote to global political turmoil.

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Sanchez recounted the time when his soprano saxophone was stolen — and Palmieri helped him pay for a new one.

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She went to dozens of auditions but recalled that "a fat soprano singing Madame Butterfly rather badly always won".

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The bats colonising Ms Murchie's home are soprano pipistrelles, which are among the most common and widespread of British bat species.

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Related Words

• singer