ensemble
[ahn-sahm-buh l, -sahmb; French ahn-sahn-bluh]
- all the parts of a thing taken together, so that each part is considered only in relation to the whole.
- 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.
- a set of furniture.
- Music.
- the united performance of an entire group of singers, musicians, etc.
- the group so performing: a string ensemble.
- a group of supporting entertainers, as actors, dancers, and singers, in a theatrical production.
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Origin of ensemble
1740–50; < French: together < Latin insimul, equivalent to in- in-2 + simul together; see simultaneous
Synonyms
See more synonyms for ensemble on Thesaurus.com1. totality, entirety, aggregate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ensemble
Contemporary Examples
While Malkovich was an ensemble member of the Steppenwolf Theater Company, Miller was enlisted to photograph the cast.
And Olivia Palermo weds in three-piece Carolina Herrera ensemble.
Sky Ferreira Defends Terry Richardson; Angel Haze & Ireland Baldwin Confirm RelationshipThe Fashion Beast Team
June 30, 2014
Fortunately for Williams, he “fell in love with the ensemble immediately.”
It is often compared to the Wars of the Roses and its ensemble cast of villains, bunglers, and occasional heroes.
The ‘GOT’ Red Viper and Mountain Duel, and a History of Medieval Trial by CombatSteven Isaac
June 3, 2014
They wanted an ensemble cast rather than a show driven by a few stars.
Historical Examples
Only, there was an over-elaboration, so that the ensemble was flamboyant.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
The ensemble, from this point, is one of a certain impressiveness.
The Cathedrals of Northern FranceFrancis Miltoun
There is a rehearsal called for the ensemble at—when is it, Rolie?
Jill the RecklessP. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
In its reality it is the ensemble of the conditions of society.
Feuerbach: The roots of the socialist philosophyFrederick Engels
That the ensemble was businesslike and solid even my untrained eye could see.
The Riddle of the SandsErskine Childers
ensemble
- all the parts of something considered together and in relation to the whole
- a person's complete costume; outfit
- the cast of a play other than the principals; supporting players
- (as modifier)an ensemble role
- music
- a group of soloists singing or playing together
- (as modifier)an ensemble passage
- music the degree of precision and unity exhibited by a group of instrumentalists or singers performing togetherthe ensemble of the strings is good
- the general or total effect of something made up of individual parts
- physics
- 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
- a single system (such as a collection of atoms) in which the properties are determined by the statistical behaviour of its constituents
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- all together or at once
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- (of a film or play) involving several separate but often interrelated story linesensemble comedy drama
- involving no individual star but several actors whose roles are of equal importancefine ensemble playing
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Word Origin
C15: from French: together, from Latin insimul, from in- ² + simul at the same time
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
Word Origin and History for ensemble
n.
mid-15c., as an adverb, "together, at the same time," from Middle French ensemblée "all the parts of a thing considered together," from Late Latin insimul "at the same time," from in- intensive prefix + simul "at the same time," related to similis (see similar). The noun is from 1703, "parts of a thing taken together;" musical sense in English first attested 1844. Of women's dress and accessories, from 1927.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper