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What is an aria?

aria

 [ahr-ee-uh, air-ee-uh]   Example Sentences Origin

a·ri·a

   [ahr-ee-uh, air-ee-uh]
noun
1.
an air or melody.
2.
an elaborate melody sung solo with accompaniment, as in an opera or oratorio.
Origin:
1735–45; < Italian; see air1

Can be confused: area, aria.

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Aria is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
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Example Sentences
  • All is energy and propulsion: each aria and ensemble had a clear beginning, middle and end.
  • The audience, though a little tentative at first, gained in vocal power and conviction with each aria.
  • Pavarotti decided to sing an alternate version of that aria transposed down one half-step.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged

A·ri·a

   [ahr-ee-uh, uh-rahy-uh]
noun Classical Mythology.
a nymph, the mother of Miletus, by Apollo.

-aria

 
a suffix occurring in scientific terms of Latin origin, especially in names of biological genera and groups: filaria.
Origin:
< Latin: feminine singular or neuter plural of -ārius -ary
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
aria (ˈɑːrɪə)
 
—n
See also da capo an elaborate accompanied song for solo voice from a cantata, opera, or oratorio
 
[C18: from Italian: tune, air]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

aria
from It., lit. "air."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
aria [(ahr-ee-uh)]

A piece of music for one voice (or occasionally two voices) in an opera, oratorio, or cantata. In contrast with recitative singing, arias are melodious; in contrast with ordinary songs, arias are usually elaborate.

Note: Some composers, such as Richard Wagner, have felt that arias interrupt the action of opera too much and hence have written operas without them.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
ARIA
advanced range instrumented aircraft
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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