meyerbeer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal; Specialized
Quick answer
What does “meyerbeer” mean?
A proper noun referring to Giacomo Meyerbeer, a 19th-century German-born opera composer of Jewish descent, famous for his grand operas in Paris.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun referring to Giacomo Meyerbeer, a 19th-century German-born opera composer of Jewish descent, famous for his grand operas in Paris.
Used metonymically to refer to the elaborate, large-scale style of French grand opera that Meyerbeer pioneered and exemplified.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or meaning. Pronunciation may follow anglicized vs. more German-influenced patterns.
Connotations
Connotes historical opera scholarship, musical historiography, and the specific genre of French grand opera.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, confined to specialized discourse about opera history.
Grammar
How to Use “meyerbeer” in a Sentence
Meyerbeer + verb (composed, pioneered)adjective (grand, historical) + MeyerbeerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meyerbeer” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The production had a distinctly Meyerbeerian scale.
American English
- She specialized in Meyerbeer-esque grand opera.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in music history, cultural studies, and opera criticism. Example: 'Meyerbeer's influence on the Parisian operatic scene was profound.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in musicology to describe a specific operatic style, orchestration, or historical period.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meyerbeer”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meyerbeer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meyerbeer”
- Misspelling as 'Mayerbeer', 'Meierbeer', or 'Meyer-beer'.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a meyerbeer of a show').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency proper noun, used almost exclusively in contexts related to the history of opera.
Rarely and only in specialized contexts. Forms like 'Meyerbeerian' or 'Meyerbeer-esque' might be coined to describe something reminiscent of his grandiose operatic style.
It is a capitalized proper name referring to a specific historical figure. It is not a term from general vocabulary.
He was the most successful and influential composer of French grand opera in the mid-19th century, shaping the genre with works like 'Les Huguenots' and 'Le Prophète'.
A proper noun referring to Giacomo Meyerbeer, a 19th-century German-born opera composer of Jewish descent, famous for his grand operas in Paris.
Meyerbeer is usually formal; specialized in register.
Meyerbeer: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪəbɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪərbɪr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'Meyer' (like the name) + 'beer' (the drink). He composed grand operas that were as substantial and complex as a rich, dark beer.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEYERBEER IS GRAND SPECTACLE (his operas are conceptualized as large, elaborate, and visually stunning events).
Practice
Quiz
In which city did Meyerbeer achieve his greatest success?