noun
aria
AR-ee-uh/ˈɑːriə/
A piece of music for a solo singer, usually in an opera or oratorio.
The soprano sings an aria while the other characters leave the stage.
Etymology
Italian aria, literally “air,” also supplies English air in the sense “tune.” Aria preserves a more specific musical meaning: a melody for a single voice.
More examples
- The concert features three arias from Italian operas.
- He rehearses the aria with piano accompaniment.
- The aria reveals the character's private hopes.
Forms
aria · arias
Similar words
- song
- A broad vocal piece without the same operatic association.
- recitative
- Sung delivery that follows speech more closely and advances dialogue.