choir

¹choir

noun \ˈkwī(-ə)r\

Definition of CHOIR

1

: an organized company of singers (as in a church service)

2

: a group of instruments of the same class <a brass choir>

3

: an organized group of persons or things

4

: a division of angels

5

: the part of a church occupied by the singers or by the clergy; also : the part of a church where the services are performed

6

: a group organized for ensemble speaking

Examples of CHOIR

1. <joined the choir for next year>

Origin of CHOIR

Middle English quer, from Anglo-French queor, from Medieval Latin chorus, from Latin, chorus — more at chorus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CHOIR

Synonyms

chorus, chorale, consort, glee club

Related Words

ensemble; minstrelsy

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

²choir

intransitive verb

Definition of CHOIR

: to sing or sound in chorus or concert

First Known Use of CHOIR

1596

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

Rhymes with CHOIR

briar, fire, gyre, hire, ire, mire, prior, sire, spire, squire, tier, tire, wire

choir

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Body of singers with more than one voice to a part. For many centuries, church choirs sang only plainsong (see Gregorian chant). The relative complexity of early polyphony required solo voices rather than choral performance, but by the 15th century polyphony was being performed chorally. The growth of the secular choir (or chorus) coincided with the beginnings of opera. An oratorio choir is part of a different tradition, which stems from the augmented church choirs used to provide choral portions of a given oratorio, whether performed in or out of church.