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