choir Hear it!

choir Definition

choir (kwīr)

noun

  1. a group of singers organized and trained to sing together, esp. in a church
  2. the part of a church they occupy, as a chancel or choir loft
  3. ☆ an instrumental section of an orchestra the brass choir
  4. any organized group or band, as of dancers
  5. Theol. any of the nine orders of angels

Etymology: < ME quere < OFr cuer < ML chorus, choir < L (see chorus); sp. altered under infl. of L

transitive verb, intransitive verb

Old Poet. to sing in chorus

choir Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • robe: This is a robed choir, affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music.

Converse of subject

  • sing: The Psalms were chanted, and Hymns sung by the choir with spirit and care; the Hymns were " Come to thy Temple.

Adjective modifier

  • angelic: Sounds of thunder lie behind the angelic choir who introduce ' Belt Up ' .
  • four-part: Leeds Youth Choir is a four-part choir for singers from 12 to 19 or over.
  • heavenly: Let dust in dust and silence lie; Sing, sing, ye heavenly choir.
  • mixed: Louth Choral Society, Lincolnshire A Friendly 80 voice mixed choir which enjoys performing a wide range of music.
  • male-voice: This immensely enjoyable feature documentary follows the male-voice choir of Berlevag, above the Arctic Circle, as they prepare for a Russian tour.
  • amateur: It seeks to find and recognize the best amateur choirs in the country.

Modifies a noun

  • vestry: The choir vestry door on a sunny August day in 1999.
  • stall: The carved oak choir stalls were placed in 1908 for £ 75.
  • loft: The Organ Sited in the choir loft, the organ was constructed by Bishop & Starr, appointed organ-builder to Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
  • aisle: The organ is situated at the east end of the south choir aisle, with the attached console facing east.
  • singing: It's hip-hop with a gospel flavor and we have a choir singing on the track.
  • rehearsal: Details of all these things are announced at choir rehearsals, so it is important to listen.

Noun used with modifier

  • gospel: Terri Hendrix sounded like an off the wall gospel choir on her own.
  • mixed-voice: Aberdeen Orpheus Choir Choir, Aberdeenshire, Scotland A mixed-voice choir with a wide repertoire from Scottish folk songs to classical choral works.
  • cathedral: Each night 50 or 60 people gathered in the cathedral choir stalls to sing Compline gently to round off a very full day.
  • chamber: In the summer of 1998 he wrote a piece for Michael Brewer's chamber choir Laudibus.

Possessives

  • repertoire: It is good to keep introducing new pieces in order to increase a choir's repertoire - pieces can then be performed in rotation.

Preposition: of

  • angel: Vast choirs of angels are massing on Earth now to help us with this transition.
choir Quotes

Since I am coming to that holy room Where, withThy choir of saints forevermore, I shall be madeThy Music, as I come I tune the instrument here at the door, And what I must do then, think now before.

—Donne,John

So then he said that he used to be a member of the choir himself, so who was heto cast the first rock at a girl like I.

—Loos, Anita

I want to retire at 50. I want to play cricket in the summer and geriatric football in the winter, and sing in the choir.

—Kinnock, Neil Gordon