/hel"dn ten'euhr/ ; Ger. /hel"dn tay nohrdd'/ , n. , pl. heldentenors , Ger. heldentenore /-tay noh'rddeuh/ .
a tenor having a brilliant, powerful voice suited to singing heroic roles, as in Wagnerian opera. Also called heroic tenor .
[ 1925-30; Helden- comb. form of Held hero + Tenor TENOR ]