choir

[ kwahyuhr ]

noun

1. a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
2. any group of musicians or musical instruments; a musical company, or band, or a division of one:

   string choir.

3. Architecture.
   1. the part of a church occupied by the singers of the choir.
   2. the part of a cruciform church east of the crossing.
4. (in medieval angelology) one of the orders of angels.

adjective

1. professed to recite or chant the divine office:

   a choir monk.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to sing or sound in chorus.

choir

/ kwaɪə /

noun

1. an organized group of singers, esp for singing in church services
2. 1. the part of a cathedral, abbey, or church in front of the altar, lined on both sides with benches, and used by the choir and clergy Compare chancel
   2. ( as modifier )

      choir stalls

3. a number of instruments of the same family playing together

   a brass choir

4. Also calledchoir organ one of the manuals on an organ controlling a set of soft sweet-toned pipes Compare great swell
5. any of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology

Derived Forms

• ˈchoirˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• choir·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of choir¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English quer, from Old French cuer, from Latin chorus “choir,” replacing Old English chor, from Latin; chorus

Word History and Origins

Origin of choir¹

C13 quer, from Old French cuer, from Latin chorus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. preach to the choir. preach to the choir.

Example Sentences

From the moment British crooner, pianist and producer Sampha joined his four-person band onstage to perform “Plastic 100°C” off his 2017-project “Process,” he ushered the audience in like a seasoned choir director.

From Los Angeles Times

Ware’s vocals lend a dreamy, devotional quality to Salute’s garage-inspired beat, which briefly drops out toward the end for a quick trip to church, complete with a heavenly choir of multi-tracked Wares.

From New York Times

The advert is set to Give a Little Love from the film Bugsy Malone, with the soundtrack sung by a choir of Morrisons staff.

From BBC

My aunt runs and sings in the choir, and my daughter loves, loves singing with them.

From Los Angeles Times

Indigo and Nyarai both sing with the group and will join a UK-wide choir for the Children in Need appeal night on Friday, 15 November.

From BBC

Related Words

• assemblage
• band
• cast
• chorus
• orchestra
• quartet
• quintet
• sextet
• trio
• troupe