Definition of "soprano" [so•pra•no]

• The highest singing voice of a woman or young boy. (noun)
• A singer having such a voice. (noun)
• The tonal range characteristic of a soprano. (noun)
• An instrument that sounds within this range. (noun)
• A vocal or instrumental part written within this range. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• ""The word soprano comes from the Italian 'sopra' meaning above," explains Elin, who called the CD Soprano World."
• "The prima donna soprano is the Signora de Ricci; and the second donna is called"
• "Anne Sofie von Otter's mezzo-soprano is perhaps a touch ethereal for Dido, but she didn't try and compete with the orchestra, instead confidently drawing the drama to her, with a stage presence and an unfailingly intelligent musicality that anchored the human dimension of Part II."