soprano

1 of 2

adjective

so·​pra·​no sə-ˈpra-(ˌ)nō  -ˈprä- 

: relating to or having the range or part of a soprano

soprano

2 of 2

noun

plural sopranos

1

: the highest singing voice of women or boys and formerly of castrati

also : a person having this voice

2

: the highest voice part in a 4-part chorus

3

: a member of a family of instruments having the highest range

Examples of soprano in a Sentence

Noun

She sings in a high soprano.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The role of Mimi will be split between Mexican American soprano Amanda Olea (May 16,18) and artistic director Hamza (May 17, 19). —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024

Accompanied by pianist Craig Terry, the Grammy Award-winning soprano pays tribute to the French chanteuse in what promises to be a special event. —Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024

Something similar will be attempted in the upcoming Opera Philadelphia staging, directed by Ethan Heard, in which Cio-Cio-San will be represented by a doll, separate from the soprano. —Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024

That soprano will be Karen Chia-ling Ho, who is Taiwanese; the doll’s puppeteer is Hua Hua Zhang, who was born in Beijing. —Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024

Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell and renowned soprano Larisa Martínez are joined by celebrated pianist Peter Dugan for an evening of romantic arias and modern classics. —The Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2024

There were moments on Monday that wanted a soprano more fiery than ivory. —Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024

Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, and Four Last Songs, featuring radiant soprano Maria Valdes as soloist. —The Arizona Republic, 25 Feb. 2024

If anything, the soprano sounded more at home in the Handel, at ease with its ornamentation and more attuned to its drama. —Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Italian, adjective & noun, from sopra above, from Latin supra — more at supra-

First Known Use

Adjective

1730, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing soprano

• mezzo-soprano

Kids Definition

soprano

1 of 2 adjective

so·​pra·​no sə-ˈpran-ō  -ˈprän- 

1

: relating to the soprano voice or part

2

: having a high range

soprano sax

soprano

2 of 2 noun

plural sopranos

1

: the highest voice part in harmony for four parts with men's and women's voices compare alto sense 1b, bass entry 2 sense 1a, tenor sense 2a

2

: the highest singing voice of women or boys

also : a person with this voice

Etymology

Adjective

from Italian soprano "relating to a soprano or soprano part," from sopra "above," from Latin supra "above"