Dictionary

choreograph en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈkɒɹiəɡɹæf/ (UK)
• /ˈkɔɹjəɡɹæf/ (US)
• /ˈkɒɹiəɡɹɑːf/ (UK)

Etymology

Back-formation from choreography, equivalent to choreo- + -graph.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To design and record the choreography for a dramatic work such as a ballet.
   • She and her two best friends are choreographing a number for the talent show; she’s applied to California Institute of the Arts; and she flirts unabashedly with a cute pizza server. (The better to land a couple of extra pepperonis on her slice without an upcharge.) 2019 September 5, Aisha Harris, “‘Jinn’ Review: A Not So Typical Coming-of-Age Story”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 06 Sep 2019:
   • So he choreographs each event depending on the crowd, starting with something to learn the drill, like “Marching Through Georgia,” working in something to loosen people up like the hokeypokey, and probably a contra dance (long lines, not squares) like the Virginia reel. 2008 June 19, Peter Applebome, “At 91, He Isn’t Ready for the Last Dance Just Yet”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 03 Mar 2021:
2. (transitive) To direct the development of a project; to orchestrate.
   • Fight sequences fall into one of three categories: “MAMs” (many against many), “OHMs” (one hits many), and “triple O′s” (one on one). Group fights — MAMs and OHMs — are more difficult to choreograph than triple O′s, and TV shows that included well-choreographed MAMs and OHMs received higher marks than those devoid of mass attacks. 1994 February, Black Belt, page 42:
   • England’s response came in the form of the brilliantly choreographed move that concluded with Wayne Rooney’s second goal and the kind of outstanding football that was beyond their opponents. 2014 November 18, Daniel Taylor, “England and Wayne Rooney see off Scotland in their own back yard”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2016:
3. (intransitive) To work as a choreographer.

Forms

Deriveds

choreographable · choreographist · overchoreograph · rechoreograph

Relateds

choreography · choreographer

Translations (15)

ca coreografiar (to design and record a choreography) · pt dirigir (to direct the development of a project) · fi johtaa projektia (to direct the development of a project) · pt coreografar (to design and record a choreography) · hu koreografál (to design and record a choreography) · fi suunnitella koreografia (to design and record a choreography) · el χορογραφώ (to direct the development of a project) · pt gerenciar (to direct the development of a project) · sv koreografera (to design and record a choreography) · es coreografiar (to design and record a choreography) · el χορογραφώ (to design and record a choreography) · pt protagonizar (to direct the development of a project) · pt gerir (to direct the development of a project) · cmn 编舞 (to design and record a choreography) · da koreografere (to design and record a choreography)