orchestra

[ awr-kuh-struh ]

noun

1. a group of performers on various musical instruments, including especially stringed instruments of the viol class, clarinets and flutes, cornets and trombones, drums, and cymbals, for playing music, as symphonies, operas, popular music, or other compositions.
2. (in a modern theater)
   1. the space reserved for the musicians, usually the front part of the main floor orchestra pit.
   2. the entire main-floor space for spectators.
   3. the parquet.
3. (in the ancient Greek theater) the circular space in front of the stage, allotted to the chorus.
4. (in the Roman theater) a similar space reserved for persons of distinction.

orchestra

/ ɔːˈkɛstrəl; ˈɔːkɪstrə /

noun

1. a large group of musicians, esp one whose members play a variety of different instruments See also symphony orchestra string orchestra chamber orchestra
2. a group of musicians, each playing the same type of instrument

   a balalaika orchestra

3. Also calledorchestra pit the space reserved for musicians in a theatre, immediately in front of or under the stage
4. the stalls in a theatre
5. (in the ancient Greek theatre) the semicircular space in front of the stage

orchestra

1. A group of musicians who play together on a variety of instruments, which usually come from all four instrument families — brass , percussion , strings , and woodwinds . A typical symphony orchestra is made up of more than ninety musicians. Most orchestras, unlike chamber music groups, have more than one musician playing each musical part.

Derived Forms

• orchestral, adjective
• orˈchestrally, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of orchestra¹

1590–1600; < Latin orchēstra < Greek orchḗstra the space on which the chorus danced, derivative of orcheîsthai to dance

Word History and Origins

Origin of orchestra¹

C17: via Latin from Greek: the space in the theatre reserved for the chorus, from orkheisthai to dance

Example Sentences

Enough with the score, expertly handled by music director and conductor Marc Macalintal and an orchestra that blends Eastern and Western instruments to hypnotic effect.

From Los Angeles Times

To celebrate, they'll put on a special performance backed by the Manchester Camerata orchestra.

From BBC

The Divan is a training orchestra founded 25 years ago by Barenboim and Palestinian American scholar Edward Said to bring together young musicians from Israel and Middle Eastern Arab countries.

From Los Angeles Times

The orchestra’s current members had spent the last year during the war in Gaza studying at the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin, learning to work through their profound differences for a common cause.

From Los Angeles Times

The marvelous Utopia Orchestra in the pit was composed of leading players from top European ensembles.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• band
• ensemble