ensemble

[ ahn-sahm-buhl, -sahmb; French ahn-sahn-bluh ]

noun

, plural en·sem·bles [ahn-, sahm, -, sahm, -b, uh, lz, -, sahmbz, ah, n, -, sahn, -bl, uh].

1. all the parts of a thing taken together, so that each part is considered only in relation to the whole.

   Synonyms: aggregate, entirety, totality

2. the entire costume of an individual, especially when all the parts are in harmony:

   She was wearing a beautiful ensemble by one of the French designers.

3. a set of furniture.
4. Music.
   1. the united performance of an entire group of singers, musicians, etc.
   2. the group so performing:

      a string ensemble.

5. a group of supporting entertainers, as actors, dancers, and singers, in a theatrical production.

ensemble

/ ɑ̃sɑ̃blə; ɒnˈsɒmbəl /

noun

1. all the parts of something considered together and in relation to the whole
2. a person's complete costume; outfit
3. 1. the cast of a play other than the principals; supporting players
   2. ( as modifier )

      an ensemble role

4. music
   1. a group of soloists singing or playing together
   2. ( as modifier )

      an ensemble passage

5. music the degree of precision and unity exhibited by a group of instrumentalists or singers performing together

   the ensemble of the strings is good

6. the general or total effect of something made up of individual parts
7. physics
   1. a set of systems (such as a set of collections of atoms) that are identical in all respects apart from the motions of their constituents
   2. a single system (such as a collection of atoms) in which the properties are determined by the statistical behaviour of its constituents

adverb

1. all together or at once

adjective

1. (of a film or play) involving several separate but often interrelated story lines

   ensemble comedy drama

2. involving no individual star but several actors whose roles are of equal importance

   fine ensemble playing

Word History and Origins

Origin of ensemble¹

1740–50; < French: together < Latin insimul, equivalent to in- in- ² + simul together; simultaneous

Word History and Origins

Origin of ensemble¹

C15: from French: together, from Latin insimul, from in- ² + simul at the same time

Example Sentences

Corea extended that freedom of expression into his own musical ensembles.

From Washington Post

Without the ensembles, that left the IHME model, with its single perspective and other problems, as the most appealing strategic resource available to many decision-makers.

From Quanta Magazine

The wool-and-tweed ensemble is a sleek, fitted look, complete with blue leather gloves and a mask of the same material.

From Vox

When a Weddell seal, native to Antarctica, plummets 400 meters beneath the ice on one of its hour-long dives, an ensemble of adaptations come together to keep it alive.

From Nautilus

The rest of the cast is made up of less familiar faces, but they form a solid ensemble that’s every bit as capable as the stars they support.

From Washington Blade

While Malkovich was an ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theater Company, Miller was enlisted to photograph the cast.

From The Daily Beast

The 18-year-old strutted down the runway Monday in an edgy, off-the-shoulder, red-and-black tweed ensemble accented with feathers.

From The Daily Beast

And Olivia Palermo weds in three-piece Carolina Herrera ensemble.

From The Daily Beast

Fortunately for Williams, he “fell in love with the ensemble immediately.”

From The Daily Beast

It is often compared to the Wars of the Roses and its ensemble cast of villains, bunglers, and occasional heroes.

From The Daily Beast

The general ensemble of war-paint and spotted ponies was enough for me; I didn't need to be told that it was my move.

From Project Gutenberg

Although none of the singers were remarkable, yet no individual artist marred the ensemble.

From Project Gutenberg

The page, the people, the pilgrim, and the astrologer again sing in a sort of operatic ensemble their various emotions.

From Project Gutenberg

With not a tithe of the beauty of half the girls present, her tout ensemble was striking and attractive.

From Project Gutenberg

The early attempts contained few ensemble pieces, no choruses, and no complex finales.

From Project Gutenberg