choir (kwīr)
n.

1. An organized company of singers, especially one performing church music or singing in a church.
2. 1. The part of a church used by such a company of singers.
   2. The part of the chancel in a cruciform church that is occupied by this company of singers.
3. 1. A group of instruments of the same kind: a string choir.
   2. A division of some pipe organs, containing pipes suitable for accompanying a choir.
4. An organized group: a choir of dancers.
5. One of the orders of angels.

intr.v., choired, choir·ing, choirs.
To sing in chorus.

[Middle English quer, quire, from Old French cuer, from Medieval Latin chorus, from Latin, choral dance. See chorus.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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