English Explanatory Dictionary

choir

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A group of people who sing together; a company of people who are trained to sing together.
  2. One quarter of a cruciform church, or the architectural area of a church, generally used by the choir; often near the apse.
  3. One of the nine ranks or orders of angels.
  4. Set of strings (one per note) for a harpsichord.
verb
  1. To sing in concert.
name
  1. A city in Govisümber, Mongolia.

Pronunciation

/kwaɪə(ɹ)/ /kwɑə(ɹ)~ kwɑː(ɹ)/ en-uk-choir.ogg /kwaɪɚ/ en-us-choir.ogg /kʰwajr/ /kʰɔjr/

Word forms

choir choirs choiring choired

Etymology

From Middle English quer, quere, from Old French quer, from Latin chorus, from Ancient Greek χορός (khorós, “company of dancers or singers”). Modern spelling influenced by chorus and French chœur. Doublet of quire, chorus, and hora.

Related words

choral chorus quire

Derived words

antechoir antichoir brass choir choir boy choirboy choirchild choirgirl choirleader choirless choirlike choirman choirmaster choirmate choirmistress choir organ choir school choir screen choirstall choir stall choirwise chorister dawn choir join the choir invisible Nikon choir polychoir preach to the choir retrochoir
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