chorus

American  

[kawr-uhs, kohr-] / ˈkɔr əs, ˈkoʊr- /

noun

plural

choruses

1. Music.

   1. a group of persons singing in unison.

   2. (in an opera, oratorio, etc.) such a group singing choral parts in connection with soloists or individual singers.

   3. a piece of music for singing in unison.

   4. a part of a song that recurs at intervals, usually following each verse; refrain.

2. simultaneous utterance in singing, speaking, shouting, etc.

3. the sounds so uttered.

   a chorus of jeers.

4. (in a musical show)

   1. a company of dancers and singers.

   2. the singing, dancing, or songs performed by such a company.

5. (in ancient Greece)

   1. a lyric poem, believed to have been in dithyrambic form, that was sung and danced to, originally as a religious rite, by a company of persons.

   2. an ode or series of odes sung by a group of actors in ancient Greek drama.

   3. the group of actors that performed the chorus and served as major participants in, commentators on, or as a supplement to the main action of the drama.

6. Theater.

   1. a group of actors or a single actor having a function similar to that of the Greek chorus, as in Elizabethan drama.

   2. the part of a play performed by such a group or individual.

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verb (used with or without object)

chorused, chorusing

1. to sing or speak in chorus.

idioms

1. in chorus, in unison; with all speaking or singing simultaneously.

   They responded in chorus to the minister's questions.

chorus British  

/ ˈkɔːrəs /

noun

1. a large choir of singers or a piece of music composed for such a choir

2. a body of singers or dancers who perform together, in contrast to principals or soloists

3. a section of a song in which a soloist is joined by a group of singers, esp in a recurring refrain

4. an intermediate section of a pop song, blues, etc, as distinct from the verse

5. jazz any of a series of variations on a theme

6. 1. a lyric poem sung by a group of dancers, originally as a religious rite

   2. an ode or series of odes sung by a group of actors

7. 1. (in classical Greek drama) the actors who sang the chorus and commented on the action of the play

   2. actors playing a similar role in any drama

8. 1. (esp in Elizabethan drama) the actor who spoke the prologue, etc

   2. the part of the play spoken by this actor

9. a group of people or animals producing words or sounds simultaneously

10. any speech, song, or other utterance produced by a group of people or animals simultaneously

    a chorus of sighs

    the dawn chorus

11. in unison

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verb

1. to speak, sing, or utter (words, etc) in unison

chorus More Idioms  

1. see in chorus.

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Etymology

Origin of chorus

1555–65; < Latin < Greek chorós a dance, band of dancers and singers

Example Sentences

Analysts and even founders and venture capitalists across Silicon Valley joined the chorus.

From The Wall Street Journal

The big moments were still huge, especially with the help of his fabulous chorus.

From Los Angeles Times

The chorus of boos that greets Mr. Horner clearly takes him aback, as it does the drivers shown backstage.

From The Wall Street Journal

A couple of tunes veer in an alt-rock direction, such as “If I Leave,” which adopts the quiet verses/loud chorus structure of the ’90s to powerful effect.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jones' own tenure ended with a 27-13 loss to South Africa in November 2022, which concluded to a chorus of jeers.

From BBC

Related Words

• melody
• music
• theme
• tune