Choir
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /kwaɪ.ə(ɹ)/
- Rhymes: -aɪə(r)
- US IPA: /kwaɪɚ/
- Rhymes: -aɪɚ
- Homophones: quire
Alternative forms
- quire archaic
Origin
From Middle English quer, quere, from Old French quer, from Latin chorus, from Ancient Greek χοÏός (choros, "company of dancers or singers"). Modern spelling influenced by chorus and Modern French chÅ“ur.
Noun
choir
(plural choirs)- Singing group; group of people who sing together; company of people who are trained to sing together.
- 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 5, Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, …, down the nave to the western door. … At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.
- The church choir practices Thursday nights.
- The part of a church where the choir assembles for song.
- 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 5, Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.
- Christian angelology One of the nine ranks or orders of angels.Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones are three of the choirs of angels.