4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Opus  \O"pus\,  n.;  pl  {Opera}.  [L.  See  {Opera}.] 
  A  work  specif.  (Mus.),  a  musical  composition. 
 
  Note:  Each  composition,  or  set  of  pieces,  as  the  composer  may 
  choose  is  called  an  opus,  and  they  are  numbered  in  the 
  order  of  their  issue.  (Often  abbrev.  to  op.) 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Opera  \Op"er*a\,  n.  [It.,  fr  opera  work  composition,  opposed 
  to  an  improvisation,  fr  L.  opera  pains  work  fr  opus, 
  operis,  work  labor:  cf  F.  op['e]ra.  See  {Operate}.] 
  1.  A  drama,  either  tragic  or  comic,  of  which  music  forms  an 
  essential  part  a  drama  wholly  or  mostly  sung,  consisting 
  of  recitative,  arials,  choruses,  duets,  trios,  etc.,  with 
  orchestral  accompaniment,  preludes,  and  interludes, 
  together  with  appropriate  costumes,  scenery,  and  action  a 
  lyric  drama. 
 
  2.  The  score  of  a  musical  drama,  either  written  or  in  print; 
  a  play  set  to  music. 
 
  3.  The  house  where  operas  are  exhibited. 
 
  {Op['e]ra  bouffe}  [F.  op['e]ra  opera  +  bouffe  comic,  It 
  buffo],  {Opera  buffa}  [It.],  light,  farcical,  burlesque 
  opera. 
 
  {Opera  box},  a  partially  inclosed  portion  of  the  auditorium 
  of  an  opera  house  for  the  use  of  a  small  private  party. 
 
  {Op['e]ra  comique}  [F.],  comic  or  humorous  opera. 
 
  {Opera  flannel},  a  light  flannel,  highly  finished.  --Knight. 
 
  {Opera  girl}  (Bot.),  an  East  Indian  plant  ({Mantisia 
  saltatoria})  of  the  Ginger  family,  sometimes  seen  in 
  hothouses.  It  has  curious  flowers  which  have  some 
  resemblance  to  a  ballet  dancer,  whence  the  popular  name 
  Called  also  {dancing  girls}. 
 
  {Opera  glass},  a  short  telescope  with  concave  eye  lenses  of 
  low  power,  usually  made  double,  that  is  with  a  tube  and 
  set  of  glasses  for  each  eye;  a  lorgnette;  --  so  called 
  because  adapted  for  use  at  the  opera,  theater,  etc 
 
  {Opera  hat},  a  gentleman's  folding  hat. 
 
  {Opera  house},  specifically,  a  theater  devoted  to  the 
  performance  of  operas. 
 
  {Opera  seria}  [It.],  serious  or  tragic  opera;  grand  opera. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  opera 
  n  1:  a  drama  set  to  music;  consists  of  singing  with  orchestral 
  accompaniment  and  an  orchestral  overture  and  interludes 
  2:  theater  where  opera  is  performed  [syn:  {opera  house}] 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  OPERA,  n.  A  play  representing  life  in  another  world,  whose 
  inhabitants  have  no  speech  but  song,  no  motions  but  gestures  and  no 
  postures  but  attitudes.  All  acting  is  simulation,  and  the  word 
  _simulation_  is  from  _simia_,  an  ape;  but  in  opera  the  actor  takes  for 
  his  model  _Simia  audibilis_  (or  _Pithecanthropos  stentor_)  --  the  ape 
  that  howls. 
 
  The  actor  apes  a  man  --  at  least  in  shape; 
  The  opera  performer  apes  and  ape. 
 
 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words