orchestra

American  

[awr-kuh-struh] / ˈɔr kə strə /

noun

1. a group of performers on various musical instruments, including especially stringed instruments of the viol class, clarinets and flutes, cornets and trombones, drums, and cymbals, for playing music, as symphonies, operas, popular music, or other compositions.

2. (in a modern theater)

   1. the space reserved for the musicians, usually the front part of the main floor orchestra pit.

   2. the entire main-floor space for spectators.

   3. the parquet.

3. (in the ancient Greek theater) the circular space in front of the stage, allotted to the chorus.

4. (in the Roman theater) a similar space reserved for persons of distinction.

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orchestra British  

/ ɔːˈkɛstrəl, ˈɔːkɪstrə /

noun

1. a large group of musicians, esp one whose members play a variety of different instruments See also symphony orchestra string orchestra chamber orchestra

2. a group of musicians, each playing the same type of instrument

   a balalaika orchestra

3. Also called: orchestra pit.  the space reserved for musicians in a theatre, immediately in front of or under the stage

4. the stalls in a theatre

5. (in the ancient Greek theatre) the semicircular space in front of the stage

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orchestra Cultural  

1. A group of musicians who play together on a variety of instruments, which usually come from all four instrument families — brass, percussion, strings, and woodwinds. A typical symphony orchestra is made up of more than ninety musicians. Most orchestras, unlike chamber music groups, have more than one musician playing each musical part.

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Usage

What’s the difference between an orchestra, a symphony, and a philharmonic? In popular use, orchestra, symphony, and philharmonic are often used interchangeably to refer to a large group of musicians assembled to play music, especially classical music.The most common (and general) term is orchestra. Most large orchestras include many different instruments and classes of instruments, including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.The word symphony primarily refers to a complex, multipart musical composition (like Beethoven’s fifth symphony), but it’s also a short way of referring to a symphony orchestra—a large orchestra, the kind that performs symphonies. (Smaller orchestras—those with about 25 people—are often called chamber orchestras). As a noun, the word philharmonic can refer to a symphony orchestra or to the organization that sponsors it (sometimes called a philharmonic society, in which philharmonic is used as an adjective). The word orchestra most commonly refers to the group of musicians, but it can also refer to the space reserved for them, usually the front part of the main floor (sometimes called the orchestra pit).Both symphony and philharmonic are sometimes used in the names of orchestras, as in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.Here’s an example of orchestra, symphony, and philharmonic used correctly in a sentence.Example: I’ve attended performances of this symphony by the Berlin Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between orchestra, symphony, and philharmonic.

Other Word Forms

• orchestral adjective
• orchestrally adverb

Etymology

Origin of orchestra

1590–1600; < Latin orchēstra < Greek orchḗstra the space on which the chorus danced, derivative of orcheîsthai to dance

Example Sentences

Yet here, on the Berliners’ own label, is a deluxe set of 24 discs, complete with lavish hardbound book, featuring Karajan and the orchestra in radio broadcasts from 1953 through 1969.

From The Wall Street Journal

Howard agrees with the comparison of him and Bush to conductors of a giant orchestra, listening for notes being played just right.

From Los Angeles Times

She was a member of the school orchestra and the National Honor Society.

From Los Angeles Times

The homey feeling they shared was supported by a band that has the stylistic grace of a well-honed orchestra.

From Los Angeles Times

But it was intriguing: Oboists are treated with great care because the whole orchestra has to tune up to an oboe.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• band
• ensemble