The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
n. A theatrical production that has many of the musical elements of opera but is lighter and more popular in subject and style and contains spoken dialogue. Also called light opera.
n. A lighter version of opera with a frivolous story and spoken dialogue.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. A short, light, musical drama.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. A short opera, generally of a light character and so belonging to the class of comic opera or opera bouffe.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. a short amusing opera
Word Usage
"Franz Lehár's operetta is the perfect titbit for a financial crisis, as it concerns the fiscal anxieties of a small European state whose entire GDP has ended up in a flighty young widow's jewellery drawer."