comic opera see under opera¹

comic relief noun

Relief from dramatic tension provided by humour or a comic episode

comic strip noun

A strip cartoon

opera¹ /opˈ(ə-)rə/

1. Musical drama
2. A company performing opera
3. An opera house

Used in or for an opera

—See also music drama, musical, musical comedy

operatic /-atˈik/ adjective

1. Relating to or resembling opera
2. (loosely) histrionic

operatˈically adverb

opera bouffe or (French) opéra bouffe /o-pā-raˈ boofˈ/ noun

Funny or farcical opera

opera buffa /boofˈə or opˈā-ra boofˈa/ noun (Italy)

Comic opera, esp of the 18c, opp to opera seria

opera cloak noun

An elegant cloak for evening wear, esp in the auditorium of a theatre

opéra comique /kom-ēkˈ/ noun (French)

Opera with some spoken dialogue, in the 18c having subjects less lofty than those of grand opera, in the 19c having no restriction as to subject (either comic or tragic)

opˈera-dancer noun

A dancer in ballets introduced into operas

opera glass or opera glasses noun

Small binoculars used by audiences in the theatre

opera hat noun

A collapsible top hat

opera house noun

A theatre for opera

opera seria /sēˈri-ə or seˈrya/ noun (Italy)

Serious opera

opera singer noun

comic opera

1. Opéra comique
2. Opera of an amusing nature
3. An absurd emotional situation

grand opera

Opera without dialogue, esp if the subject is very dramatic or emotional

light opera

1. A lively and tuneful opera
2. An operetta (qv)

soap opera see under soap