choir
n.-
1 singing group (n.) B1 Intermediate Musica group of people who sing together, especially in a church, school, or concert hall.
an organized company of singers, typically performing choral music in a religious or secular context.
ExampleThe school choir is practicing every afternoon for the winter concert.
ExampleThe cathedral choir performed a complex polyphonic arrangement that showcased the exceptional range of the soprano soloists.
UsageOften used with a singular verb in British English and American English, though plural verbs are also common in British English.
-
2 church architecture (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Architecturethe area in a large church where the singers and priests sit, usually near the front.
the area of a cruciform church between the nave and the sanctuary, traditionally reserved for the clergy and the choir.
ExampleThe tourists admired the beautifully carved wooden seats in the choir.
ExampleThe architect noted that the choir was unusually elongated, a common feature in English Gothic cathedrals compared to their continental counterparts.
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
-
3 rank of angels (n.) C2 Proficiency Formal Literary Religionone of the nine levels or groups of angels in some religious traditions.
one of the nine traditional orders or ranks of celestial beings in Christian angelology.
ExampleAncient stories describe the different choirs of angels singing in heaven.
ExampleThe theologian discussed the hierarchical distinction between the various choirs of angels, specifically focusing on the seraphim and cherubim.
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.