melodrama

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Noun 1.1.1 Translations 1.1.2 Derived terms

[edit] English

[edit] Noun

melodrama (countable and uncountable; plural melodramas)

1. (uncountable) A kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes (archaic).
2. (countable) A drama abounding in romantic sentiment and agonizing situations, with a musical accompaniment only in parts which are especially thrilling or pathetic. In opera, a passage in which the orchestra plays a somewhat descriptive accompaniment, while the actor speaks; as, the melodrama in the grave digging scene of Beethoven's "Fidelio".
3. (uncountable, figuratively, colloquial) Any situation or action which is blown out of proportion.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

• melodramatic
• melodramatics
• melodramatist
• melodramatize