/zahr zway"leuh, -zwee"-/ ; Sp. /thahrdd thwe"lah, sahrdd swe"-/ , n. , pl. zarzuelas /-leuhz/ ; Sp. /-lahs/ .
a Spanish opera having spoken dialogue and often a satirically treated, topical theme.
[ 1885-90; La Zarzuela, palace near Madrid where first performance took place (1629) ]