ariaa melody; a solo as in an opera: Her aria was beautifully sung.Not to be confused with:area ? surface, extent, or range: He combed the area for evidence.Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreea·ri·a (ä?r?-?)n.1. A solo vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment, as in an opera.2. An air; a melody.[Italian aria, air, aria, from Latin ?era, accusative of ??r, air, from Greek ??r; see wer- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.aria (???r??) n (Classical Music) an elaborate accompanied song for solo voice from a cantata, opera, or oratorio. See also da capo[C18: from Italian: tune, air]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014a?ri?a (??r i ?, ???r i ?) n., pl. a?ri?as. 1. an air or melody. 2. an elaborate melody sung solo with accompaniment, as in an opera or oratorio. [1735?45;