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operetta

op·e·ret·ta [ òppə réttə ] (plural op·e·ret·tas)


noun 
Definition:
 
comic opera with dancing: a theatrical production, usually with a comic theme, similar to opera but with much spoken dialogue and usually some dancing. Gilbert and Sullivan wrote many operettas.

[Late 18th century. < Italian, "small opera" < opera (see opera1)]

op·e·ret·tist [ òppə réttist ] noun
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