orchestra
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a large group of people who play instruments together, usually including violins, flutes, and drums.
a large ensemble of musicians playing various instruments, typically including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
Simple“The orchestra practiced for weeks before their big concert at the town hall.”
In context“The conductor led the orchestra through a demanding repertoire that showcased the technical precision of the woodwind section.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the area in a theatre, usually in front of and below the stage, where the musicians sit.
the designated space in a theatre or concert hall where the musicians perform, often situated in a pit below stage level.
Simple“From our seats in the balcony, we could look down into the orchestra.”
In context“The acoustics of the newly renovated orchestra were designed to project sound clearly even to the furthest rows of the gallery.”
Synonymspitorchestra pit - 03 C2 Proficiency
the circular or semicircular space in an ancient Greek theatre where the singers and dancers performed.
the circular or semicircular space in front of the proscenium in an ancient Greek theatre, primarily used by the chorus.
Simple“In ancient Greece, the chorus performed their dances in the orchestra.”
In context“Archaeological excavations revealed that the orchestra of the Hellenistic theatre was originally paved with decorative marble.”
“The Copland got off to an uneven start, the orchestra never quite capturing the mystery of the open prairie, though at full-throttle they certainly caught its majesty.”
“By National Youth Orchestra standards, this Proms appearance – the all-guns-blazing finale of the cohort’s year together – was positively straight-laced.”
Via Latin orchēstra, itself lifted from Ancient Greek ὀρχήστρα (orkhḗstra), the space where dancers moved in the Greek theatre; the noun is formed from the verb ὀρχέομαι, "to dance".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.