orchestra

orchestra — noun

1. an organized music group whose members play instruments together while a conduct

1.nounB1
Definition

an organized music group whose members play instruments together while a conductor directs them

Example

The city orchestra played Beethoven in the park after sunset.

play in an orchestra

Maya joined the school orchestra and practiced violin every Tuesday.

join the school orchestra

Common collocations
  • school orchestra
  • youth orchestra
  • orchestra conductor
  • orchestra rehearsal
  • join the orchestra
Synonyms
  • band

    broader and less exact; it can mean many kinds of music groups, not only classical ones

  • ensemble

    a more general and often more formal word for people performing together

  • symphony orchestra

    a more specific term for a full classical orchestra

Grammar Patterns

play in an orchestra

join the school orchestra

the orchestra conductor

Usage Note

Often refers to a formal instrumental group, especially one with string players and a conductor. Distinguish from band, which is broader and may describe a school, military, jazz, or rock group.

Common Mistakes

The school orchestra sang three songs at the concert.
The school choir sang three songs at the concert.
An orchestra mainly plays instruments, while a choir sings.

2. the audience seats on the lowest level, usually in front of any balcony

2.noun
Definition

the audience seats on the lowest level, usually in front of any balcony

Example

We bought orchestra seats for the Saturday musical downtown.

collocation: orchestra seats

From the orchestra, Lena could see every step on stage.

sit in the orchestra

Common collocations
  • orchestra seats
  • orchestra row
  • orchestra tickets
  • sit in the orchestra
Synonyms
  • stalls

    the usual British term for this seating area

  • main floor

    a common North American term for the lowest seating level

  • front seats

    broader and less exact because it may mean only some seats near the front

Antonyms
  • balcony

    the higher seating level above the main floor

  • gallery

    an upper seating area, usually farther from the stage

Grammar Patterns

orchestra seats

sit in the orchestra

orchestra tickets

Usage Note

Usually singular and mostly found in theatre seating or ticket language. Distinguish from orchestra pit: this sense names audience seating, not the space where musicians play.

Common Mistakes

Our seats were in the orchestra pit.
Our seats were in the orchestra.
The orchestra pit is for the musicians, not for the audience.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For this sense, orchestra is the usual word for a large instrumental group, often one with string players and a conductor. Band is broader and less exact: it can mean a school wind band, a rock group, or many other kinds of music group. Ensemble is a more formal general word for performers playing together, and it often describes a smaller group. Choir is different because the members sing instead of mainly playing instruments. Quartet is specific to four performers. Use orchestra when you mean the full classical-style group itself. You can say Maya plays violin in the youth orchestra, but Maya sings in the school choir names a different kind of group.

orchestra ↗band ↗ensemble ↗choir ↗quartet ↗

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Orchestra came into English from Latin orchestra, which came from Greek orkhestra. In ancient Greek theatres, the word first named the open area where the chorus performed. English later kept the same form, and the modern music meaning grew from the group that played in the theatre.