choir

1 of 2

noun

ˈkwī(-ə)r 

1

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

greeted by a large male choir wearing red bowties and singing carols

—New Yorker

2

: a group of instruments of the same class

a brass choir

3

: an organized group of persons or things

… travels with a suite of assistants and a choir of publicists.

—L. R. Lapham

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

choir

2 of 2

verb

choired; choiring; choirs

intransitive verb

: to sing or sound in chorus or concert

The woodwinds choired eloquently.

Synonyms

Noun

• chorale
• chorus
• consort
• glee club

Examples of choir in a Sentence

Noun

joined the choir for next year

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Or when a Black church queen directs a choir really well. —J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024

His song of lament is accompanied by Carlos Arévalo’s wailing guitar, and crescendos with a full-on choir. —Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing choir

• choir loft
• preach to the choir

Kids Definition

choir

noun

ˈkwī(-ə)r

1

: an organized group of singers especially in a church

2

: the part of a church where the choir sits