CHOIR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does choir mean? 

• CHOIR (noun)
  The noun CHOIR has 3 senses:

1. a chorus that sings as part of a religious ceremony

2. a family of similar musical instrument playing together

3. the area occupied by singers; the part of the chancel between sanctuary and nave

  Familiarity information: CHOIR used as a noun is uncommon.

• CHOIR (verb)
  The verb CHOIR has 1 sense:

1. sing in a choir

  Familiarity information: CHOIR used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHOIR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A chorus that sings as part of a religious ceremony

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("choir" is a kind of...):

chorus (a group of people assembled to sing together)

Meronyms (members of "choir"):

chorister (a singer in a choir)

Derivation:

choir (sing in a choir)

choral (related to or written for or performed by a chorus or choir)

chorister (a singer in a choir)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A family of similar musical instrument playing together

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

choir; consort

Hypernyms ("choir" is a kind of...):

set (a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used)

Derivation:

choir (sing in a choir)

choral (related to or written for or performed by a chorus or choir)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The area occupied by singers; the part of the chancel between sanctuary and nave

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("choir" is a kind of...):

area (a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function)

Holonyms ("choir" is a part of...):

bema; chancel; sanctuary (area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railing)

Derivation:

choir (sing in a choir)

• CHOIR (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sing in a choir

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

choir; chorus

Hypernyms (to "choir" is one way to...):

sing (produce tones with the voice)

Domain category:

music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue choir

Derivation:

choir (the area occupied by singers; the part of the chancel between sanctuary and nave)

choir (a chorus that sings as part of a religious ceremony)

choir (a family of similar musical instrument playing together)

 Context examples 

It is for the choir window in the church of St. Remi, and we had gone, my little helper and I, to see if it was indeed of the size for the stonework.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It will be as if you hear bells and a choir of angels singing.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Meg had a voice like a flute, and she and her mother led the little choir.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Our choir will be dumb without you.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

During the ceremony the boys had mysteriously disappeared, and when Mrs. March had tried to thank her children, and broken down, while Teddy wiped her eyes on his pinafore, the Professor suddenly began to sing. Then, from above him, voice after voice took up the words, and from tree to tree echoed the music of the unseen choir, as the boys sang with all their hearts the little song that Jo had written, Laurie set to music, and the Professor trained his lads to give with the best effect.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Walking on tiptoe round the bushes, he stood in amazement to see two men bounding about on their heads, while they played, the one a viol and the other a pipe, as merrily and as truly as though they were seated in a choir.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)