n.
Pronunciation: ' ä-p( ə -)r ə , Southern also ' ä-pr ē
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian, work, opera, from Latin, work, pains; akin to Latin oper-, opus ― more at OPERATE
Date: 1644
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