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

Appearing as Musetta was soprano Andrea Carroll (pictured). —David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2024

Chinese soprano Guanqun Yu (Liu) does, though, provide lovely, human pathos to the otherwise awkward pageantry in the production directed by Garnett Bruce. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024

Image Image Image Image Busy with concerts, too, was a 25-year-old French soprano named Juliette Tacchino. —James Estrin Joshua Barone, New York Times, 4 June 2024

The Kansas City Symphony Chorus, along with O’Connor and soprano Joelle Harvey, are featured in the fifth movement, which gives the symphony its name. —Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 31 May 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"