choir

KWY-ur/kwaɪɚ/KWY-uh/kwaɪə(ɹ)/

4 meanings of choir

1
nouncountable
A group of people who sing songs together, like at a church or school.
Like a sports team, but for singing: everyone practices and performs together.
She joined the school choir in fifth grade.
The choir sang two songs at the holiday concert.
Similarchorus, chorale
Note
2
noundialectalChristiancountable
One of the nine groups of angels in Christian teaching.
Like the different grades in a school: each group of angels is at its own level.
The hymn names every choir of angels, from the lowest to the highest.
The painting shows the highest choir of angels circling the throne.
Similarorder, rank
Note
3
nouncountable
A full set of strings on a harpsichord, with one string for each note.
Like adding a second guitar that plays the same notes: the sound gets fuller.
Each choir on the harpsichord gives the notes a slightly different sound.
The builder added a second choir of strings to make the instrument louder.
4
verbintransitive
To sing together as a group, with all the voices joining at once.
Like when a crowd sings happy birthday together: many voices making one song.
Everyone in the hall began to choir together as the music played.
The singers choired softly behind the main melody.
Similarsing, chant
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of choir apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came through Middle English and Old French from Latin chorus, which came from Ancient Greek khorós, meaning a group of dancers or singers. The modern spelling was shaped by the words chorus and French chœur.