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Meaning of "libretto" in the English dictionary

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DICTIONARY
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ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD LIBRETTO

From Italian, diminutive of libro book.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF LIBRETTO

libretto  [lɪˈbrɛtəʊ] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF LIBRETTO

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Libretto is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES LIBRETTO MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Libretto

A libretto is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term libretto is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as the Mass, requiem and sacred cantata, or the story line of a ballet. Libretto, from Italian, is the diminutive of the word libro. A libretto is distinct from a synopsis or scenario of the plot, in that the libretto contains all the words and stage directions, while a synopsis summarizes the plot. Some ballet historians also use the word libretto to refer to the 15–40 page books which were on sale to 19th century ballet audiences in Paris and contained a very detailed description of the ballet's story, scene by scene. The relationship of the librettist to the composer in the creation of a musical work has varied over the centuries, as have the sources and the writing techniques employed. In the context of a modern English language musical theatre piece, the libretto is often referred to as the book of the work, though this usage typically excludes sung lyrics.

Definition of libretto in the English dictionary

The definition of libretto in the dictionary is a text written for and set to music in an opera, etc.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH LIBRETTO


allegretto
ˌælɪˈɡrɛtəʊ
amaretto
æməˈrɛtəʊ
amoretto
ˌæməˈrɛtəʊ
borghetto
bɔːˈɡɛtəʊ
confetto
kɒnˈfɛtəʊ
falsetto
fɔːlˈsɛtəʊ
fianchetto
ˌfɪənˈtʃɛtəʊ
ghetto
ˈɡɛtəʊ
gruppetto
ɡrʊˈpɛtəʊ
lazaretto
ˌlæzəˈrɛtəʊ
neutretto
njuːˈtrɛtəʊ
palmetto
pælˈmɛtəʊ
petto
ˈpɛtəʊ
Soweto
səˈwɛtəʊ
Spoleto
spəʊˈlɛtəʊ
stiletto
stɪˈlɛtəʊ
stretto
ˈstrɛtəʊ
terzetto
tɜːˈtsɛtəʊ
Tintoretto
ˌtɪntəˈrɛtəʊ
vaporetto
ˌveɪpəˈrɛtəʊ

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE LIBRETTO

librarian
librarianship
libraries
library
library book
library card
library edition
Library of Congress
library pictures
library science
library ticket
librate
libration
librational
libratory
libretti
librettist
Libreville
libriform

WORDS THAT END LIKE LIBRETTO

bozzetto
cabbage palmetto
Canaletto
Caporetto
cavetto
concetto
dolcetto
fumetto
in petto
Kazan Retto
larghetto
nonghetto
rispetto
rondoletto
saw palmetto
sestetto

Synonyms and antonyms of libretto in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

SYNONYMS OF «LIBRETTO»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «libretto» and belong to the same grammatical category.
synonyms of libretto
book · lines · lyrics · script · text · words

Translation of «libretto» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF LIBRETTO

Find out the translation of libretto to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of libretto from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «libretto» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

歌词
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

libreto
570 millions of speakers

English

libretto
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

लीब्रेट्टो
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

الاوبرا
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

либретто
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

libreto
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

যাত্রাগানের বই
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

livret
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Libretto
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Libretto
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

台本
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

대본
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Libretto
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

văn ca kịch
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

இசை நாடக
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

पुस्तकाचा
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

libretto
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

libretto
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

libretto
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

лібрето
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

libret
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

λιμπρέτο
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

libretto
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

librettoen
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

libretto
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of libretto

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «LIBRETTO»

The term «libretto» is quite widely used and occupies the 28.290 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Quite widely used
87
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «libretto» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of libretto
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «libretto».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «LIBRETTO» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «libretto» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «libretto» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about libretto

EXAMPLES

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «LIBRETTO»

Discover the use of libretto in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to libretto and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Puccini's Tosca: Opera Classics Library Series
A comprehensive guide to Puccini's TOSCA, featuring insightful and in depth Commentary and Analysis, a complete, newly translated Libretto with Italian/English side-by side, and over 20 music highlight examples.
Burton D. Fisher, 2005
2
Words with Music: Creating the Broadway Musical Libretto
The dean of Broadway musical directors examines the dynamics of how the book, music and lyrics work together to create such hits as My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, Hair, Pal Joey, West Side Story, Company, South Pacific, ...
Lehman Engel, Howard Kissel, 2006
3
Bizet's CARMEN LIBRETTO
A complete, newly translated LIBRETTO of Bizet's Carmen, featuring Music Highlight Examples and French/English translation side-by-side.
Burton D. Fisher, 2002
4
Libretto
Libretto was first published in 1998 and was his first book-length appearance in the English language.
Edoardo Sanguineti, 1998
5
The Baroque Libretto: Italian Operas and Oratorios in the ...
The Baroque Libretto catalogues the Baroque Italian operas and oratorios in the Thomas Fisher Library at the University of Toronto and offers an analysis of how the study of libretto can inform the understanding of opera.
Domenico Pietropaolo, Mary Ann Parker, 2011
6
The Authentic Magic Flute Libretto: Mozart's Autograph or ...
The book also includes several photos and the complete first edition libretto, in German and with literal English translation, providing a side-by-side text comparison with the autograph text.
Michael Freyhan, 2009
7
Pal Joey: the libretto and lyrics
The Broadhurst Theatre, Jule Styne and Leonard Key, in association with Anthony B. Farrell present "Pal Joey," a musical play, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, book by John O'Hara, dances and musical numbers staged by Robert ...
John O'Hara, 1952
8
Classic Literary Adaptations: Carmen, Opéra Comique ...
This unadapted edition of the libretto enables students to enjoy the language of one of France's cultural treasures. The reader is softcover and 120 pages in length accompanied by a 56-page workbook.
H. Wynn Rickey, Margaret Shiriver, 1976
9
Verdi's Othello: Opera Classics Library Series
A comprehensive guide to Verdi's OTELLO, featuring insightful and in depth Commentary and Analysis, a complete, newly translated Libretto with Italian/English translation side-by side, and over 30 music highlight examples.
Burton D. Fisher, Giuseppe Verdi, 2005
10
The libretto as literature: Doktor Faust by Ferruccio Busoni
Nancy O. Chamness has been Assistant Professor of German at Earlham College and Hope College.
Nancy Otis Chamness, 2001

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «LIBRETTO»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term libretto is used in the context of the following news items.
1
When cries of rape are heard in opera halls - Hamilton Spectator
Dissonances are at the heart of such criticisms. How should a director bring a centuries-old score and libretto into the contemporary world? «Hamilton Spectator, Jul 15»
2
Opera Theater of Pittsburgh draws powerful connections and …
Driven more by plot than character, the libretto veered toward the didactic. It had achieved its moral compass without cluing the audience in to ... «Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jul 15»
3
Opera review: Salome — hell hath no fury - The Santa Fe New …
Slater reaches back to the source of Strauss' libretto, Oscar Wilde's stage-play Salomé, to recover a detail that becomes central to his ... «Santa Fe New Mexican, Jul 15»
4
July 24: Ivan the Terrible at SJCT - San Juan Islander
Bolshoi Ballet's production of Ivan the Terrible will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday, July 24, 2015 at San Juan Community. Music by Sergei Prokofiev, libretto and ... «SanJuanIslander.com, Jul 15»
5
The Quietus | Features | Tome On The Range | Poetry Column: Zona …
She is also a columnist, and is currently writing a libretto based around the female characters in 1001 Nights. Her poems are sharp, witty, ... «The Quietus, Jul 15»
6
A look at Zaid Jabri's new opera about the 1930s Gulf oil rush | The …
They had already written the libretto version of Munif's novel and were looking for a composer familiar with eastern and western music, whom ... «The National, Jul 15»
7
BWW Reviews: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is a 'Hunk-a You Betcha'
With a libretto based of the 1980 autobiography of con man Frank Abagnale Junior, the show is structured from the 2002 Dreamworks Motion ... «Broadway World, Jul 15»
8
Portland Opera closes its season with a charming, comic spaghetti …
Canty's own translation of the libretto applied the final Western touch, with such turns of phrase as "all hat and no cattle" and "What in the Sam ... «OregonLive.com, Jul 15»
9
Opera review: Delibes' Lakme by Opera Holland | Theatre …
The City of London Sinfonia under conductor Matthew Waldren captures the lushness of the score. The French libretto by Edmond Gondinet ... «Express.co.uk, Jul 15»
10
A pair of on-again, off-again lovers are center stage in Mozart's 'La …
The convoluted (and anonymous) libretto abounds with disguise, deception and hidden motives with a cast of seven would-be and once-were ... «Albuquerque Journal, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Libretto [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/libretto>. May 2024 ».
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