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coloratura

 - 3 dictionary results

col⋅o⋅ra⋅tu⋅ra

  [kuhl-er-uh-toor-uh, -tyoor-uh, kol-, kohl-]
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–noun
1. runs, trills, and other florid decorations in vocal music.
2. a lyric soprano of high range who specializes in such music.
Also, col⋅or⋅a⋅ture  [kuhl-er-uh-choor] .

Origin:
1730–40; < It < LL: lit., coloring. See color, -ate 1 , -ure
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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col·or·a·tu·ra   (kŭl'ər-ə-tŏŏr'ə, -tyŏŏr'ə)   
n.   Music

  1. The ornamentation of music written for the voice with florid passages, especially trills and runs.

  2. Vocal music characterized by florid ornamental passages.

  3. A singer, especially a soprano, specializing in such ornamentation.


[Obsolete Italian, from Late Latin colōrātūra, coloring, from Latin colōrātus, past participle of colōrāre, to color, from color, color; see color.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

coloratura [(kul-uhr-uh-toor-uh)]

Elaborate ornamentation in a piece of vocal music. A coloratura soprano is one who can sing such highly ornamented parts.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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