op|er|a

op|er|a¹ «OP uhr uh, OP ruh», noun.

1. a play that is mostly sung, with costumes, scenery, acting, and music to go with the singing: »

Faust, Lohengrin, and Carmen are well-known operas.

2. the branch of art represented by such plays: »

the history of opera, to sing in opera. Opera is a blend of all the performing arts—song, instrumental music, dance and drama (New York Times).

3. a performance of an opera.

4. a theater where operas are performed; opera house.

5. the libretto or the score for an opera.

╂[< Italian opera, for opera in musica a (dramatic) work to music; opera < Latin opera, effort, (originally) neuter plural of opus, -eris a work]

op|er|a² «OP uhr uh», noun.

a plural of opus.