chorus

noun

A group of singers performing together; a choir; specifically, such a group singing together in a musical, an opera, etc., as distinct from the soloists; an ensemble.

An instance of singing by a group of people.

(music) A part of a song which is repeated between verses to emphasize the song's content; a refrain.

(by extension) A group of people in a performance who recite together.

(figuratively) A group of people who express a unanimous opinion.

(figuratively) The opinion expressed by such a group.

(figuratively) The noise or sound made by such a group.

(figuratively) A group of people, animals, or inanimate objects who make sounds together.

(music) A piece of music, especially one in a larger work such as an opera, written to be sung by a choir in parts (for example, by sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses).

(music) The main part of a pop song played after the introduction.

(music) (Christianity) A simple, often repetitive, song intended to be sung in a group during informal worship.

(music) A group of organ pipes or organ stops intended to be played simultaneously; a compound stop; also, the sound made by such pipes or stops.

(music) (often attributively) A feature or setting in electronic music that makes one instrument sound like many.

(music) (jazz) The improvised solo section in a small group performance.

(Ancient Greece, historical) A group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song.

(Ancient Greece, historical) A song performed by the singers of such a group.

(by extension, chiefly British, theater, historical) An actor who reads the prologue and epilogue of a play, and sometimes also acts as a commentator or narrator; also, a portion of a play read by this actor.

verb

(transitive) To sing (a song), express (a sentiment), or recite or say (words) in chorus.

(transitive) To express concurrence with (something said by another person); to echo.

(intransitive) To sing the chorus or refrain of a song.

(intransitive) To sing, express, or say in, or as if in, unison.

(intransitive) To echo in unison another person's words.

(intransitive) Of animals: to make cries or sounds together.

(transitive) (rare) To provide (a song) with a chorus or refrain.

Roots

khoroschor- · Greek · dance, chorus

Synonyms for chorus

choirn choralen refrainv anthemn chantn ensemblen descantn cantatan ritornello canton

Synonyms & related words for chorus

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of chorus — including choir, chorale, refrain, anthem, chant, ensemble. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to chorus

Explore words related to chorus — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include choral, choric, chorally, chorister, singing, singers, singalong, antiphony. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for chorus

Common synonyms for chorus include choir, chorale, refrain, anthem, chant, ensemble, descant, cantata — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does chorus come from?

The word chorus breaks down into one root of Greek origin: the root chor-, from Greek khoros (“dance, chorus”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.