choir

choir — noun

1. a group of singers who perform together as an organized ensemble, especially in

1.nounB2
Definition

a group of singers who perform together as an organized ensemble, especially in a church or at public events such as concerts and festivals

Example

Every spring, the school choir performs a concert for students and their families.

collective noun with singular verb: the choir performs

Aiko joined the local choir last year and now sings soprano in the weekly rehearsals.

join + a choir

Common collocations
  • choir rehearsal
  • choir member
  • choir concert
  • choir director
  • join a choir
  • sing in a choir
  • choir practice
Synonyms
  • chorus

    more general term for a group of singers; also refers to the repeated part of a song

  • vocal ensemble

    more formal term for any group of singers, not necessarily religious

  • chamber choir

    a small, specialized choir typically performing classical music without a conductor

Grammar Patterns

choir + singular/plural verb

the choir + verb

Usage Note

In British English, 'choir' can take either a singular verb ('the choir sings') when seen as a unit, or a plural verb ('the choir sing') when emphasizing individual members. American English strongly prefers the singular.

Common Mistakes

I joined the chorus at my church.' (when singing in a church group).
I joined the choir at my church.
'chorus' usually refers to a section in an opera or musical, or a repeated part of a song, while 'choir' means the singing group itself.

2. a section of a church building close to the altar, reserved for singers during s

2.nounB2
Definition

a section of a church building close to the altar, reserved for singers during services and often enclosed by carved screens or low railings

Example

The carved wooden screens near the altar in the choir date from the early sixteenth century.

in the choir (architectural area)

Visitors can walk through the choir to examine the detailed stone carvings up close.

Common collocations
  • in the choir
  • choir stalls
  • choir screen
  • medieval choir
  • choir loft
Synonyms
  • chancel

    the entire area around the altar including the choir, usually larger in scope

  • choir stalls

    the seating area within the choir space, not the space itself

Grammar Patterns

the choir

in the choir

Usage Note

Entirely about the physical space in a church — not interchangeable with the GROUP OF SINGERS sense. 'The choir sang' means the singers; 'the choir was rebuilt' means the area near the altar.

Common Mistakes

The choir was renovated with new wooden benches for the singers.' (ambiguous).
The choir area was renovated with new wooden benches for the singers.
specify 'choir area' or 'choir stalls' to clearly refer to the physical space rather than the group.
Idioms

preach to the choir

idiom

to share an opinion or idea with people who already agree with it, making the effort unnecessary because no one needs convincing

The principal was preaching to the choir when she told the science club that studying matters.

You are preaching to the choir about exercise — I already run three times a week.

choir — verb

Word family

  • choirboy
    nounB2
  • choirmaster
    nounC1
  • choral
    adjectiveB2
  • chorister
    nounC1
  • chorus
    nounB1
  • chorale
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Choir' and 'chorus' are the most common words for a group of singers, but they differ in scope. 'Choir' typically refers to a group that performs religious music in a church or school setting, often with four vocal parts (soprano, alto, tenor, bass). 'Chorus' is broader: it can mean the singing group in an opera or musical, the repeated part of a song, or any large group of singers regardless of setting. A 'vocal ensemble' is a more formal term for a small, select group performing art music, often without a conductor. A 'chorale' is specifically a Lutheran hymn tune or the group that performs such hymns. For example: 'The church choir sang the anthem on Sunday,' but 'The chorus of the musical had fifty performers.' If you mean a school singing group, 'choir' is the natural choice; for the singing section of a theatrical production, use 'chorus.'

choir ↗chorus ↗vocal ensemblechorale

Common collocations

Nouns

  • choir director
  • choir practice
  • choir rehearsal
  • choir member
  • choir concert

Adverbs

Phrases

  • choir of angels
  • choir loft
  • choir stalls
  • choir robes

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'choir' entered English from Old French 'cuer' or 'choeur', which came from Latin 'chorus' ('a company of dancers or singers'), which in turn came from Greek 'khoros' ('a dance, a band of dancers or singers'). The original Greek sense involved both dancing and singing in a group, often in religious ceremonies. Over time, the meaning narrowed from a combined dance-and-song performance to the modern sense of a group of singers only. The architectural meaning (the area in a church where singers sit) developed by the 14th century as church buildings began to include dedicated spaces for singing groups.