soprano

1 of 2

adjective

so·​pra·​no sə-ˈpra-(ˌ)nō  -ˈprä- 

: relating to or having the range or part of a soprano

soprano

2 of 2

noun

plural sopranos

1

: the highest singing voice of women or boys and formerly of castrati

also : a person having this voice

2

: the highest voice part in a 4-part chorus

3

: a member of a family of instruments having the highest range

Examples of soprano in a Sentence

Noun

She sings in a high soprano.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The key promise here lies in Audra McDonald, the once-in-a-generation soprano megastar and winner of six Tony Awards, who plays Rose, Gypsy’s ambitious juggernaut of a stage mother. —Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024

Australian soprano Danielle de Niese plays Hanna, the wealthy widow looking for a new lover. —Adrienne Wyper, The Week Uk, theweek, 17 Dec. 2024

Hometown Holiday Pops Conductor Ryan Tani will lead the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble and soprano Alli Mauzey in a seasonal mixture of classics, carols and pop tunes, including a Christmas sing-along. —Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2024

Soon after, Callas was mentored by Elvira de Hidalgo, a celebrated soprano singer at the Athens Conservatory. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Italian, adjective & noun, from sopra above, from Latin supra — more at supra-

First Known Use

Adjective

1730, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing soprano

• mezzo-soprano

Kids Definition

soprano

1 of 2 adjective

so·​pra·​no sə-ˈpran-ō  -ˈprän- 

1

: relating to the soprano voice or part

2

: having a high range

soprano sax

soprano

2 of 2 noun

plural sopranos

1

: the highest voice part in harmony for four parts with men's and women's voices compare alto sense 1b, bass entry 2 sense 1a, tenor sense 2a

2

: the highest singing voice of women or boys

also : a person with this voice

Etymology

Adjective

from Italian soprano "relating to a soprano or soprano part," from sopra "above," from Latin supra "above"