chorus
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the part of a song that is repeated after every verse.
the refrain of a song, typically following each verse and containing the main lyrical or melodic theme.
Simple“The song has a very catchy chorus that everyone started singing along to.”
In context“While the verses provide the narrative detail, the chorus serves as the emotional anchor of the track, repeated four times for maximum impact.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
a large group of people who sing together, especially in an opera or a play.
a large organized group of singers, especially one that performs together in an opera, oratorio, or musical.
Simple“She joined the local community chorus to meet people who love music.”
In context“The director decided to position the chorus behind the orchestra to create a more balanced acoustic profile during the final act.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
many people or animals making the same sound or saying the same thing at once.
a simultaneous utterance or expression by a group of people or animals.
Simple“A chorus of birds woke me up early this morning.”
In context“The government's new policy was met with a chorus of disapproval from both the public and the media.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
in ancient plays, a group of actors who describe and comment on the main action.
a group of performers in Ancient Greek drama who comment on the action through song, dance, and recitation.
Simple“The Greek chorus explained the background of the story to the audience.”
In context“In Sophocles' tragedies, the chorus often represents the collective voice of the citizens, reflecting on the moral implications of the protagonist's choices.”
The noun is borrowed from Medieval Latin chorus (“church choir”), Latin chorus (“group of dancers and singers; dance”), from Ancient Greek χορός (khorós, “group of dancers and singers, choir, chorus; dance accompanied by song; round dance”); The verb is derived from the noun. Doublet of choir, chore, and hora.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.