melodrama

CEFRC1

/ˈmɛləˌdɹɑːmə/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A story with exaggerated emotions and dramatic events.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A drama abounding in romantic sentiment and agonizing situations, with a musical accompaniment only in parts which are especially thrilling or pathetic.

Examples

  • I found the play to be a bit too much of a melodrama.

  • The movie was a classic melodrama full of intense emotion.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
1

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A passage in which the orchestra plays a somewhat descriptive accompaniment, while the actor speaks.

  2. A kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes.

  3. Any situation or action which is blown out of proportion.

More examples

In context

  • The play was a exciting melodrama full of secrets.

  • The grave-digging scene in Beethoven's “Fidelio” has much melodrama.

  • Rudolf was the bold, bad Baron of traditional melodrama. Irene was young, as pretty as a picture, fresh from a music academy in England. He was the scion of an ancient noble family; she an orphan without money or friends.

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

The television show was full of exaggerated emotions, a classic blank from the 1800s.

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Nearby

Origin

noun

From French mélodrame, the second element refashioned by analogy with drama; ultimately from Ancient Greek μέλος (mélos, “limb”, “member”, “song”, “tune”, “melody”) + δρᾶμα (drâma, “deed”, “theatrical act”). Compare melodrame. Cognate to German Melodram and Spanish melodrama.