chorale
Americannoun
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a hymn, especially one with strong harmonization.
a Bach chorale.
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a group of singers specializing in singing church music; choir.
noun
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a slow stately hymn tune, esp of the Lutheran Church
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a choir or chorus
Etymology
Origin of chorale
1835–45; < German Choral, short for Choralgesang, translation of Latin cantus chorālis choral singing; see choral
Explanation
A chorale is the melody of a Christian hymn, or religious song. You're most likely to hear a chorale in a church. You can use the noun chorale to talk about a church song, or more specifically, the tune which the voices sing. Most chorales are sung in harmony, blending higher and lower voices, and are fairly simple melodies that are relatively easy to sing along with. The word comes from the German Choralgesang, "choral song," with its Latin root of cantus choralis, "song belonging to a choir."
Vocabulary lists containing chorale
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.
The show will also include appearances by Josh Groban and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026
The Master Chorale sang with beauty in mind.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2025
Meanwhile, 5,000 miles away from northern Brazil at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Los Angeles Master Chorale presented a novel argument.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2025
By the end of the performance, which included the mighty Los Angeles Master Chorale and superb vocal soloists Chen Reiss and Beth Taylor, “rising again” was not a matter of choice.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2025
Evelyn spoke of the Chorale in the first act of the "Meistersinger," and this led her into quite a little account of the music she sang on the stage.
From Evelyn Innes by Moore, George (George Augustus)
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.
