aria
|a-ri-a|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑɹiə/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑː.ri.ə/
solo melody
Etymology
'aria' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'aria,' where 'aria' meant 'air' or 'melody' (a musical tune).
'aria' entered English from Italian in the 17th century (via musical usage); the Italian word comes from Medieval Latin 'aria', ultimately from Greek 'aēr' (ἀήρ) meaning 'air'.
Initially it meant 'air' or a short melody; over time it evolved into the specialized modern meaning of 'a solo vocal piece in an opera' (and later extended uses, including the acronym ARIA).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a solo vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment, especially in an opera.
The soprano performed an aria from Verdi's Rigoletto.
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Noun 2
a long, expressive melody for a single voice (used more generally outside strict operatic context).
He wrote an aria-like passage for the cello.
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Noun 3
an acronym: ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications), a set of attributes to improve web accessibility.
Use ARIA roles to indicate landmarks on the page for screen readers.
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Last updated: 2025/10/13 12:24