Main Entry:

melo·dra·ma

Pronunciation:

\ˈme-lə-ˌdrä-mə, -ˌdra-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

modification of French mélodrame, from Greek melos song + French drame drama, from Late Latin drama

Date:

1802

1 a: a work (as a movie or play) characterized by extravagant theatricality and by the predominance of plot and physical action over characterization b: the genre of dramatic literature constituted by such works2: something resembling a melodrama especially in having a sensational or theatrical quality

— melo·dra·ma·tist \ˌme-lə-ˈdra-mə-tist, -ˈdrä-\ noun