chorus

noun18

1. •
   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.

   • The performance of the chorus was awe-inspiring and exhilarating.
2. •
   a short set of lines sung again and again in a song, between the parts whose words change

   • The catchiest part of most songs is the chorus.
3. •
   The main part of a pop song played after the introduction.
4. •
   A group of people in a performance who recite together.
5. •
   (figurative) A group of people, animals, or inanimate objects who make sounds together.

   • a chorus of crickets
6. •
   (figurative) A group of people who express a unanimous opinion.
7. •
   (figurative) The noise or sound made by such a group.

   • a chorus of shouts and catcalls
8. •
   (figurative) The opinion expressed by such a group.
9. •
   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).
10. •
    A simple, often repetitive, song intended to be sung in a group during informal worship.
11. •
    (historical) A song performed by the singers of such a group.
12. •
    (historical) A group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song.
13. •
    (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.

    • Enter Chorus. / Cut is the branch that might haue growne ful straight, / And burned is Apolloes Laurel bough, / That sometime grew within this learned man: […] — 1589
14. •
    An instance of singing by a group of people.

    • But once out of sight of those fearful precincts, the psalm was forgotten, and again broke, loud, clear, and silvery, the joyous chorus. — 1848
15. •
    [before a noun] A feature or setting in electronic music that makes one instrument sound like many.
16. •
    The improvised solo section in a small group performance.

    • Of additional interest is the riff in the second chorus, which was later copied by Joe Garland and recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra as "In the Mood," becoming the biggest hit of the Swing Era. — 2002
17. •
    A group of angels, or of types of angels like seraphim.
18. •
    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.

verb7

1. •
   To sing (a song), express (a sentiment), or recite or say (words) in chorus.

   • Shortly afterwards, all England was engaged in chorussing his favourite ditty— […] — 1826
2. •
   To sing, express, or say in, or as if in, unison.

   • Then they all chorus'd upon me—Such a character as Miss Harlowe's! cry'd one—A lady of so much generosity and good sense! another— […] — 1748
3. •
   Of animals: to make cries or sounds together.

   • Then the cocks began to crow in the town beneath the hill, and the birds chorused in the fields, and a pale yellow poppy colored the east. — 1987
4. •
   To express concurrence with (something said by another person); to echo.
5. •
   To echo in unison another person's words.

   • Then she shouted: "Viva our Lady of Grace," and the crowd chorused. — 1947
6. •
   To sing the chorus or refrain of a song.

   • Malcolm sung an Erse song, the chorus of which was 'Hatyin foam foam eri', with words of his own. […] the boatmen and Mr M’Queen chorused, and all went well. — 1785
7. •
   (rare) To provide (a song) with a chorus or refrain.

   • Let ev'ry Song be Chorust with his Name. / And Musick pay her Tribute to his Fame. — 1701

noun2

1. •
   (historical) A group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song.

   • Enter Chorus. / Cut is the branch that might haue growne ful straight, / And burned is Apolloes Laurel bough, / That sometime grew within this learned man: […] — 1589
2. •
   (historical) A song performed by the singers of such a group.