# orchestra

/ˈɔɹkəstɹə/ (US) · /ˈɔːkɛstɹɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/orchestra
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. group of musicians

noun · CEFR B1

a large group of people who play instruments together, usually including violins, flutes, and drums.

For teachers: a large ensemble of musicians playing various instruments, typically including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

- The orchestra practiced for weeks before their big concert at the town hall.
- The conductor led the orchestra through a demanding repertoire that showcased the technical precision of the woodwind section.

### 2. seating area for musicians

noun · CEFR B2

the area in a theatre, usually in front of and below the stage, where the musicians sit.

For teachers: the designated space in a theatre or concert hall where the musicians perform, often situated in a pit below stage level.

- From our seats in the balcony, we could look down into the orchestra.
- The acoustics of the newly renovated orchestra were designed to project sound clearly even to the furthest rows of the gallery.

### 3. Ancient Greek theatre space

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

the circular or semicircular space in an ancient Greek theatre where the singers and dancers performed.

For teachers: the circular or semicircular space in front of the proscenium in an ancient Greek theatre, primarily used by the chorus.

- In ancient Greece, the chorus performed their dances in the orchestra.
- Archaeological excavations revealed that the orchestra of the Hellenistic theatre was originally paved with decorative marble.

## Examples

- The orchestra plays beautiful classical music.
- He has played the violin with the national youth orchestra for three years now.
- The score required every section of the orchestra to perform with a precision that left no room for error, from the quietest passage to the final booming chord.

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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.