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symphony orchestra

American  

noun

  1. a large orchestra composed of wind, string, and percussion instruments and organized to perform symphonic compositions.

symphony orchestra British  

noun

  1. music an orchestra capable of performing symphonies, esp the large orchestra comprising strings, brass, woodwind, harp, and percussion

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of symphony orchestra

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Healey’s office also described Wolohojian as an accomplished violinist, who regularly performs with orchestras, including the Boston Civic Symphony orchestra.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 7, 2024

He was behind Canada's first safari park and served as a director of the New Brunswick Symphony orchestra.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2023

In 1971 she started the Housing Authority’s Symphony orchestra, bringing together residents of the agency’s buildings and its staff to play concerts in New York.

From Time • Dec. 30, 2015

We caught up to Mr. Williams here at Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony orchestra in the Berkshires where he is an artist-in-residence and, every year, conducts a concert of film music.

From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2011

Gerald L. K. Smith, followed by a shrill covey of "We the Mothers," took over the Stevens ballroom while the Chicago Symphony orchestra was tuning up on the stage.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.