# choir

/ˈkwaɪɝ/ (US) · /kwˈaɪə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/choir
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. singing group

noun · CEFR B1

a group of people who sing together, especially in a church, school, or concert hall.

For teachers: an organized company of singers, typically performing choral music in a religious or secular context.

- The school choir is practicing every afternoon for the winter concert.
- The cathedral choir performed a complex polyphonic arrangement that showcased the exceptional range of the soprano soloists.

Usage: Often used with a singular verb in British English and American English, though plural verbs are also common in British English.

### 2. church architecture

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the area in a large church where the singers and priests sit, usually near the front.

For teachers: the area of a cruciform church between the nave and the sanctuary, traditionally reserved for the clergy and the choir.

- The tourists admired the beautifully carved wooden seats in the choir.
- The architect noted that the choir was unusually elongated, a common feature in English Gothic cathedrals compared to their continental counterparts.

### 3. rank of angels

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

one of the nine levels or groups of angels in some religious traditions.

For teachers: one of the nine traditional orders or ranks of celestial beings in Christian angelology.

- Ancient stories describe the different choirs of angels singing in heaven.
- The theologian discussed the hierarchical distinction between the various choirs of angels, specifically focusing on the seraphim and cherubim.

## Examples

- The school choir practices every Tuesday evening.
- The local church choir is looking for new members to join their upcoming holiday performance.
- While the congregation remained in the nave, the singers gathered in the choir to perform the complex polyphonic arrangement that had been commissioned for the cathedral's anniversary.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.