Opera — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈä-p(ə-)rə/

Meaning & Definition of Opera

Opera (noun)

  1. a drama set to music and made up of vocal pieces with orchestral accompaniment and orchestral overtures and interludes; specifically, grand opera
  2. the score of a musical drama
  3. the performance of an opera; also, a house where operas are performed

Opera (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a literary, musical, or artistic production

    "the composer's final opus was performed posthumously to great acclaim"

    similar: compositions, numbers, pieces, works
    related: classics, magnum opuses, masterpieces, pièces de résistance, showpieces, models, outlines, sketches, études, canons, corpora, oeuvres

Related Entry: Opus (noun)

Opus is a different word from Opera. The synonyms below are for opus, not for opera.

  1. a literary, musical, or artistic production

    "the composer's final opus was performed posthumously to great acclaim"

    similar: composition, number, piece, work
    related: classic, magnum opus, masterpiece, pièce de résistance, showpiece, model, outline, sketch, étude, canon, corpus, oeuvre

Related Entry: Opera hat (noun)

Opera hat is a different word from Opera. The synonyms below are for opera hat, not for opera.

  1. as in baseball cap, cowboy hat

    similar: baseball cap, beret, billycock (British), biretta, boater, bonnet, bowler, calotte, capuche, casque, castor, cloche, cocked hat, cowboy hat, cowl, derby, fedora, fez, garrison cap, hard hat, helm, helmet, high hat, homburg, hood, kepi, kufi, leghorn, miter, nightcap, overseas cap, panama, picture hat, pillbox, plug hat, porkpie hat, service cap, shako, silk hat, skimmer, skullcap, sombrero, sou'wester, Stetson, stocking cap, stovepipe, sunbonnet, tam, tam-o'-shanter, ten-gallon hat, top hat, topper, toque, tricorne, turban, zucchetto, cap, chapeau, hat, headdress, headgear, headpiece, lid (slang), warbonnet

Related Entry: Opera hats (noun)

Opera hats is a different word from Opera. The synonyms below are for opera hats, not for opera.

  1. as in baseball caps, cowboy hats

    similar: baseball caps, berets, billycocks (British), birettas, boaters, bonnets, bowlers, calottes, capuches, casques, castors, cloches, cocked hats, cowboy hats, cowls, derbies, fedoras, fezzes, garrison caps, hard hats, helmets, helms, high hats, homburgs, hoods, kepis, kufis, leghorns, miters, nightcaps, overseas caps, panamas, picture hats, pillboxes, plug hats, porkpie hats, service caps, shakos, silk hats, skimmers, skullcaps, sombreros, sou'westers, Stetsons, stocking caps, stovepipes, sunbonnets, tam-o'-shanters, tams, ten-gallon hats, top hats, toppers, toques, tricornes, turbans, zucchettos, caps, chapeaus, hats, headdresses, headgears, headpieces, lids (slang), warbonnets

Related Entry: Soap opera (noun)

Soap opera is a different word from Opera. The synonyms below are for soap opera, not for opera.

  1. something (as a work of literature or music) that is too sentimental

    "the movie started out well, but quickly devolved into improbable soap opera"

    similar: corn, goo, mush, schmaltz, sludge, slush
    related: claptrap, drivel, rubbish, tripe

Related Entry: Magnum opus (noun)

Magnum opus is a different word from Opera. The synonyms below are for magnum opus, not for opera.

  1. something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement

    "this symphony is usually considered Beethoven's magnum opus"

    similar: chef d'oeuvre, classic, masterpiece, masterwork
    related: masterstroke, pièce de résistance, showpiece, tour de force, blockbuster, megahit, smash, success, winner, gem, jewel, prize, treasure
    near: bomb, catastrophe, clunker, debacle, disaster, dud, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, loser, turkey, washout

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Opera

The most common words with a similar meaning to Opera:

compositions, numbers, pieces, works

Related Words for Opera

classics, magnum opuses, masterpieces, pièces de résistance, showpieces, models, outlines, sketches, études, canons, corpora, oeuvres

Origin & Etymology of Opera

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" opus

First known use: 1848

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Opera

Words & Phrases Containing Opera

opera bouffe, opera buffa, opera comique, opera glass, opera hat, opera house, opera seria

Frequently Asked Questions about Opera

What does "Opera" mean?

"Opera" means a drama set to music and made up of vocal pieces with orchestral accompaniment and orchestral overtures and interludes; specifically, grand opera. As a noun, it is defined as: a drama set to music and made up of vocal pieces with orchestral accompaniment and orchestral overtures and interludes; specifically, grand opera.

What is another word for "Opera"?

Other words for "Opera" include compositions, numbers, pieces and works. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Opera" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Opera"?

There are 16 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Opera". Common alternatives include compositions, numbers, pieces and works.

How do you use "Opera" in a sentence?

Examples of "Opera" in a sentence: "the composer's final opus was performed posthumously to great acclaim".

Is "Opera" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Opera" is a noun.

Is "Opera" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Opera" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Opera"?

"Opera" is pronounced /ˈä-p(ə-)rə/.

What is the origin of the word "Opera"?

"Opera" comes from 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" opus. First known use: 1848.