'Melodrama' definitions:
Definition of 'melodrama'
From: WordNet
noun
An extravagant comedy in which action is more salient than characterization
Definition of 'Melodrama'
From: GCIDE
- Melodrama \Mel`o*dra"ma\, n. [F. m['e]lodrame, fr. Gr. me`los song + dra^ma drama.] Formerly, a kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes. Now, 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 gravedigging scene of Beethoven's "Fidelio". [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'melodrama'
From: GCIDE
- Drama \Dra"ma\ (dr[aum]"m[.a] or dr[=a]"m[.a]; 277), n. [L. drama, Gr. dra^ma, fr. dra^n to do, act; cf. Lith. daryti.]
- 1. A composition, in prose or poetry, accommodated to action, and intended to exhibit a picture of human life, or to depict a series of grave or humorous actions of more than ordinary interest, tending toward some striking result. It is commonly designed to be spoken and represented by actors on the stage. [1913 Webster]
- A divine pastoral drama in the Song of Solomon. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A series of real events invested with a dramatic unity and interest. "The drama of war." --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
- Westward the course of empire takes its way; The four first acts already past, A fifth shall close the drama with the day; Time's noblest offspring is the last. --Berkeley. [1913 Webster]
- The drama and contrivances of God's providence. --Sharp. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Dramatic composition and the literature pertaining to or illustrating it; dramatic literature. [1913 Webster]
- Note: The principal species of the drama are tragedy and comedy; inferior species are tragi-comedy, melodrama, operas, burlettas, and farces. [1913 Webster]
- The romantic drama, the kind of drama whose aim is to present a tale or history in scenes, and whose plays (like those of Shakespeare, Marlowe, and others) are stories told in dialogue by actors on the stage. --J. A. Symonds. Dramatic
Synonyms of 'melodrama'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- antimasque,
- audience success,
- ballet,
- blood and thunder,
- bomb,
- broadcast drama,
- burlesque show,
- charade,
- cliff hanger,
- closet drama,
- comedy drama,
- critical success,
- daytime serial,
- demonstrativeness,
- dialogue,
- documentary drama,
- drama,
- dramalogue,
- dramatic play,
- dramatic series,
- duodrama,
- duologue,
- emotional appeal,
- emotionalism,
- emotionality,
- emotionalization,
- emotionalizing,
- emotiveness,
- emotivity,
- epic theater,
- experimental theater,
- extravaganza,
- failure,
- flop,
- gasser,
- giveaway,
- Grand Guignol,
- happening,
- histrionics,
- hit,
- hit show,
- human interest,
- improvisational drama,
- legitimate drama,
- love interest,
- making scenes,
- masque,
- melodramatics,
- minstrel show,
- miracle,
- miracle play,
- monodrama,
- monologue,
- morality,
- morality play,
- music drama,
- musical revue,
- mystery,
- mystery play,
- nonrationalness,
- opera,
- pageant,
- panel show,
- pantomime,
- Passion play,
- pastoral,
- pastoral drama,
- piece,
- play,
- playlet,
- problem play,
- psychodrama,
- quiz show,
- radio drama,
- review,
- revue,
- sensational play,
- sensationalism,
- serial,
- show,
- sitcom,
- situation comedy,
- sketch,
- skit,
- soap,
- soap opera,
- sociodrama,
- spectacle,
- stage play,
- stage show,
- straight drama,
- success,
- suspense drama,
- tableau,
- tableau vivant,
- talk show,
- teleplay,
- television drama,
- television play,
- theater of cruelty,
- theatricality,
- theatrics,
- Tom show,
- total theater,
- unreasoningness,
- variety show,
- vaudeville,
- vaudeville show,
- vehicle,
- visceralness,
- word-of-mouth success,
- work,
- yellow journalism