Library / English Dictionary

CHORUS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers

Synonyms:

chorus; refrain

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("chorus" is a kind of...):

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chorus"):

tra-la; tra-la-la (a set of nonsensical syllables used while humming a refrain)

Holonyms ("chorus" is a part of...):

song; vocal (a short musical composition with words)

Derivation:

choral (related to or written for or performed by a chorus or choir)

chorus (sing in a choir)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any utterance produced simultaneously by a group

Example:

a chorus of boos

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("chorus" is a kind of...):

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Derivation:

choral (related to or written for or performed by a chorus or choir)

chorus (utter in unison)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A group of people assembled to sing together

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("chorus" is a kind of...):

musical group; musical organisation; musical organization (an organization of musicians who perform together)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chorus"):

choir (a chorus that sings as part of a religious ceremony)

Derivation:

choral (related to or written for or performed by a chorus or choir)

chorus (sing in a choir)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A company of actors who comment (by speaking or singing in unison) on the action in a classical Greek play

Synonyms:

chorus; Greek chorus

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("chorus" is a kind of...):

company; troupe (organization of performers and associated personnel (especially theatrical))

Domain category:

singing; vocalizing (the act of singing vocal music)

Derivation:

chorus (sing in a choir)

chorus (utter in unison)

choric (relating to or written for or in the style of a Greek chorus)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A body of dancers or singers who perform together

Synonyms:

chorus; chorus line

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("chorus" is a kind of...):

line (a formation of people or things one beside another)

Meronyms (members of "chorus"):

chorine; chorus girl; showgirl (a woman who dances in a chorus line)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chorus"):

corps de ballet; ensemble (the chorus of a ballet company)

Derivation:

choral (related to or written for or performed by a chorus or choir)

chorus (sing in a choir)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Utter in unison

Example:

'yes,' the children chorused

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "chorus" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

chorus (any utterance produced simultaneously by a group)

chorus (a company of actors who comment (by speaking or singing in unison) on the action in a classical Greek play)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Sing in a choir

Synonyms:

choir; chorus

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "chorus" is one way to...):

sing (produce tones with the voice)

Domain category:

music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue chorus

Derivation:

chorus (the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers)

chorus (a group of people assembled to sing together)

chorus (a company of actors who comment (by speaking or singing in unison) on the action in a classical Greek play)

chorus (a body of dancers or singers who perform together)

Credits

 Context examples: 

"How can you be so cruel to me?" he whispered, under cover of a lively chorus.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The air was calm, full of the eternal hum of insects, a tropical chorus of many octaves, from the deep drone of the bee to the high, keen pipe of the mosquito.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This speech produced a chorus of protests from the cruiser officers and a hearty agreement from the line-of-battleship men, who seemed to be in the majority in the circle which had gathered round.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"What?" they demanded in chorus.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Hark! in the courtyard and down the rocky way the roll of heavy wheels, the crack of whips, and the chorus of the Szgany as they pass into the distance.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

From far away drifted a faint, sharp yelp, followed by a chorus of similar sharp yelps.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Suddenly there came swelling up a deep-voiced, rollicking chorus from somewhere out of the darkness.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But Mrs. Micawber having, in the strength of her emotions, fainted away, the first thing to be done, even before the chorus could be considered complete, was to recover her.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Her sister seconded her, and a chorus of approval arose from around the table.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He consents without a murmur, all join in a joyful chorus, and the curtain falls upon the lovers kneeling to receive Don Pedro's blessing in attitudes of the most romantic grace.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)