buffo

buf·fo

 (bo͞o′fō)

n. pl. buf·fi (-fē) or buf·fos

A man who sings comic opera roles.

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[Italian, from buffare, to puff, of imitative origin.]

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.

buffo

(ˈbʊfəʊ; Italian ˈbuffo)

n, pl -fi (-fɪ) or -fos

1. (Music, other) (in Italian opera of the 18th century) a comic part, esp one for a bass

2. (Professions) Also called: buffo bass or basso buffo a bass singer who performs such a part

[C18: from Italian (adj): comic, from buffo (n) buffoon]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

buf•fo

(ˈbu foʊ)

n., pl. -fi (-fē), -fos.

a male opera singer specializing in comic roles.

[1755–65; < Italian buffone buffoon]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.