opera

1 of 2

plural of opus

opera

2 of 2

noun

op·​era ˈä-p(ə-)rə 

 Southern also  ˈä-prē

1

: a drama set to music and made up of vocal pieces with orchestral accompaniment and orchestral overtures (see overture entry 1 sense 2) and interludes (see interlude sense 2)

specifically : grand opera

Beethoven composed only one opera.

2

: the score (see score entry 1 sense 6) of a musical drama

The composer finished the opera in just six weeks.

3

: the performance of an opera

The opera was delayed a half hour due to technical difficulties.

also : a house where operas are performed

We'll meet you at the opera at 7 p.m.

Examples of opera in a Sentence

Noun

I am going to an opera tonight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Flashback: New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz, but the city was once a major opera town, too. —Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025

The outlier is Emilia Pérez, which Audiard adapted from his opera libretto and Boris Razon’s novel Écoute; The Wild Robot got the Scripter nom. —Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2025

Then there’s an opera coat/coach’s jacket with a 1950s-style pod shape on the back and a cropped shearling jacket with a hood and quilted interior. —Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 22 Jan. 2025

Book tickets in advance for a performance at the Spanish Riding School or perhaps catch an opera at the iconic Staatsoper. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Italian, "work, labor, artistic production, drama set to music (originally short for opera musicale, opera in musica)," going back to Latin, "activity, effort, attention, work," collective derivative from oper-, opus "work, effort, product of labor" — more at opus

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing opera

• comic opera
• grand opera
• horse opera
• light opera
• opera buffa
• opera glass
• opera hat
• opera house
• opera seria
• soap opera
• space opera
• the opera

Kids Definition

opera

1 of 2

plural of opus

opera

2 of 2 noun

op·​era ˈäp-(ə-)rə 

1

: a play in which usually the entire text is sung with orchestral accompaniment

2

: the performance of an opera

operatic

ˌäp-ə-ˈrat-ik

adjective