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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

chorus en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkɔːɹəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈkoːɹəs/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • (California, Southern) audio
  • /ˈkoɹəs/ (Canada, General-American)

Etymology

The noun is borrowed from Medieval Latin chorus (“church choir”), Latin chorus (“group of dancers and singers; dance”), from Ancient Greek χορός (khorós, “group of dancers and singers, choir, chorus; dance accompanied by song; round dance”); The verb is derived from the noun. Doublet of choir, chore, and hora.

Meanings

  1. (historical, qualifier:Ancient Greece) A group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song.
    • [W]ee would that the voice and dialect of the propheteſſe Pythia, reſembling the ſpeech of a Chorus in a tragedie from a ſcaffold, ſhould pronounce her anſwers not in ſimple, plaine, and triviall termes, without any grace to ſet them out, but with Poeticall magnificence of high and ſtately verſes, diſguiſed as it were with metaphors and figurative phraſes, yea, and that which more is, with ſound of flute and hautboies: […] 1603, Plutarch, “Why the Prophetesse Pythia Giveth No Answers Now from the Oracle in Verse or Meeter”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC, page 1199:
  2. (historical, qualifier:Ancient Greece) A song performed by the singers of such a group.
    • And the Apocalyps of Saint Iohn is the majeſtick image of a high and ſtately Tragedy, ſhutting up and intermingling her ſolemn Scenes and Acts with a ſevenfold Chorus of halleluja's and harping ſymphonies: […] 1642 (indicated as 1641), John Milton, The Reason of Church-governement Urg’d against Prelaty […], London: […] E[dward] G[riffin] for Iohn Rothwell, […], →OCLC, 2nd book, page 39:
  3. (UK, broadly, 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.
    • Ya're as good as a Chorus my lord. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shake-speare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and Iohn Trundell, published 1603, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
    • 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: […] 1589–1592 (date written), Ch[ristopher] Marl[owe], The Tragicall History of D. Faustus. […], London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Thomas Bushell, published 1604, →OCLC, signature [F3], recto:
    • Enter Time, the Chorus. [stage direction] c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 289, column 2:
    • Palinode. / Amo[rphus]. From ſpaniſh ſhrugs, french faces, ſmirks, irps, and all affected humours: / Chorvs. Good Mercvry defend vs. 1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act V, scene xi, page 267:
  4. 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.
    • They are shadowed by a robed chorus of Beckettian sages--Homer (Joseph Grimm), Hesiod (Gary Kelley), Herodotos (Daniel Parker) and Thucydides (Michael Rivkin)--given to Joseph Campbell-like pronouncements on the power of myth. 1994 March 22, Jan Breslauer, “THEATER REVIEW : An Eclectic ‘Oresteia’ Opens Actors’ Gang’s New Home”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Nov 2025:
    • But the rise of multiracialism is not all Kumbaya choruses and “postracial” identity. The N.A.A.C.P. criticized the census change, fearing that since so few in the black community are of fully African descent, mass attrition to a mixed-race option could threaten political clout and Federal financing. 2008 March 23, Peggy Orenstein, “Mixed Messenger”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 06 Nov 2020:
    • The performance of the chorus was awe-inspiring and exhilarating.
  5. (broadly) A group of people in a performance who recite together.
  6. 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, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter I, in Harold, the Last of the Saxon Kings; […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, book I (The Norman Visitor, the Saxon King, and the Danish Prophetess), page 6:
  7. (collective, noun) A group of angels, or of types of angels like seraphim.
  8. (figuratively) A group of people, animals, or inanimate objects who make sounds together.
    • a chorus of crickets    a chorus of whiners
    • More than just an appliance, the air conditioner is a memento mori. […] As summer proceeds, listen to the chorus of machines humming in the windows, outside the houses, atop the office buildings. 2017 August 9, Shane Cashman, “The Moral History of Air-Conditioning”, in The Atlantic:
  9. (figuratively) The noise or sound made by such a group.
    • a chorus of shouts and catcalls
    • As she came to the last line [of a song], her soft low voice seemed to awaken a chorus of sprightly horns and trumpets, and certain other wind instruments peculiar to the music of that day. 1848, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter I, in Harold, the Last of the Saxon Kings; […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, book I (The Norman Visitor, the Saxon King, and the Danish Prophetess), pages 18–19:
    • At the end of a frantic first 45 minutes, there was still time for Charlie Adam to strike the bar from 20 yards before referee [Martin] Atkinson departed to a deafening chorus of jeering from Everton's fans. 2011 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Everton 0 – 2 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 06 Sep 2021:
  10. (figuratively) A group of people who express a unanimous opinion.
    • Donald Trump’s top political staffers at Mar-a-Lago are pressing him to move forward with his planned 2024 presidential campaign announcement next week but a chorus of allies are suggesting delaying until after the Senate runoff in Georgia in December, according to sources familiar with the matter. 2022 November 11, Hugo Lowell, “Rift in Trump’s inner circle over 2024 presidential campaign announcement”, in The Guardian:
    • So far, more than a dozen EU countries have either enacted a windfall tax or said they’re planning to. […] On Monday, US President Joe Biden joined the chorus, accusing oil companies of “war profiteering” and threatening them with big new levies if they fail to bring down consumer prices. 2022 November 2, “Windfall Taxes Are All the Rage. They Shouldn’t Be.”, in The Washington Post:
  11. (figuratively) The opinion expressed by such a group.
    • On Friday, 75 scholars and clinicians signed an open letter, joining a chorus of disagreement with Berenson by arguing that “establishing marijuana as a causal link to violence at the individual level is both theoretically and empirically problematic”. 2019 February 17, Jamiles Lartey, “Popular book on marijuana's apparent dangers is pure alarmism, experts say”, in The Guardian:
  12. 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).
  13. A part of a song which is repeated between verses to emphasize the song's content; a refrain.
    • See the flowing bowl before us, / Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la! / Strike the harp and join the chorus. / Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la! 1862, T[homas] Oliphant; John Thomas, arranger, “No. 15. Nos Galan. New Year’s Eve. [Deck the Halls]”, in Welsh Melodies: With Welsh and English Poetry, London: Addison, Hollier & Lucas, →OCLC, stanza 2, page 140:
    • The catchiest part of most songs is the chorus.
    • [T]he commodore, the lieutenant, and landlord, joined in the chorus, repeating this elegant ſtanza: […] 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, “An Account of Mr. Gamaliel Pickle. […]”, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC, page 10, column 1:
  14. The main part of a pop song played after the introduction.
  15. 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.
  16. (attributive, often) A feature or setting in electronic music that makes one instrument sound like many.
  17. A simple, often repetitive, song intended to be sung in a group during informal worship.
  18. (qualifier:jazz) The improvised solo section in a small group performance.
    • Jazz solos in the 1920s are much more about variety and discontinuity than unity and coherence. The explosive introduction, the instrutable and tender scat-clarinet dialogue, the spritely piano chorus, and the majestic trumpet chorus—contrast is far more important than unity. 2014, Thomas Brothers, “‘Some Kind of a God’”, in Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism, New York, N.Y.; London: W[illiam] W[arder] Norton & Company, →ISBN, page 299:
    • 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, Thomas E. Larson, History and Tradition of Jazz, Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing, →ISBN:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
chorusses Number=Plur obsolete lexicographic
chori Number=Plur rare lexicographic
choruses Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

Greek chorus · dawn chorus · bird chorus · chorus girl · chorus frog · chorus line · in chorus · post-chorus · chorusmaster · cyclic chorus · verse-chorus · chorusless · choruslike · prechorus · semichorus · cyberchorus · Nikon chorus

Relateds

choreutic · choreography · Huntington's chorea · choral · quire · Sydenham's chorea · chorine · auroral chorus · chorea · choir · chorister · choreographer

Translations (154)

es coro (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · gl coro (group of people in a performance who recite together) · gv cochiaull (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · th สร้อย (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · fi kertosäe (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ru хор (group of people in a performance who recite together) · et refrään (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · cy cytgan (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · grc χορός ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · mk рефре́н (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · be прыпе́ў (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ar قَرَار (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · pl chór ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · pl chór (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · nl refrein (feature or setting in electronic music that makes one instrument sound like many) · es ritornelo (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · th นักร้องหมู่ (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · lt refrenas (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · eo ĥoro (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · bg хор (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · el χορός (group of people in a performance who recite together) · ca coral (group of people in a performance who recite together) · de Kehrreim (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · bg хор ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · tg нақарот (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · sv kör (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · es estribillo (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · pt coro (group of people in a performance who recite together) · grc χορός (group of people in a performance who recite together) · fr chœur antique ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · eo refreno (main part of a pop song played after the introduction) · kk қайырма (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ro refren (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ja リフレーン (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · sk chórus ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · sv refräng (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ms korus (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ko 후렴 (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · da omkvæd (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · pt coro ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · fr chœur (group of people in a performance who recite together) · grc χορός (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · tr nakarat (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · gl retrouso (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · sk refrén (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · th ลูกคู่ (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · uz naqarot (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · fi chorus-efekti (feature or setting in electronic music that makes one instrument sound like many) · el επωδός (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · fr chœur (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · cmn 副歌 (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · nn omkvede (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · wa tchantreye (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · ja コーラス (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · pt coro (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · ja 合唱 ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · es contera (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · pl chór (group of people in a performance who recite together) · th คายกคณะ (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · ru рефре́н (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · sh рѐфре̄н (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · el χορός ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · ka გუნდი (group of people in a performance who recite together) · pt refrão (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · nb refreng (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ja コーラス ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · nl koor ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · ru хор ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · ca cor ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · haw hui (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ka რეფრენი (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ka გუნდი (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · fi kuoro (group of people in a performance who recite together) · ja 合唱隊 (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · km សាដាន (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · fo niðurlag (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · de Chor ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · ru припе́в (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · tt кушымта (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · vi điệp khúc (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · sh при́пев (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · mi korihi (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · vi hợp xướng ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · sh prípjev (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · cmn 高潮 (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ko 리프레인 (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ga cór (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · pl refren (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · wa keur (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · hi कोरस (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · gd sèist (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · uk рефре́н (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ar كُورَس ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · nrf èrfrain (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · sv omkväde (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · alt кош-кожоҥы (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · uk при́спів (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · de Refrain (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · hu kórus (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · ky кайырма (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · nb omkved (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · lt priedainis (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · nl koor (group of people in a performance who recite together) · de Chor (group of people in a performance who recite together) · cmn 合唱 ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · az nəqərat (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ca cor (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · hy կրկներգ (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · sh prípev (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ca cor (group of people in a performance who recite together) · bg рефре́н (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · fo kór (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · ka მისამღერი (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · eo rekantaĵo (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · fr chœur ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · alt хор ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · ko 합창 ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · lo ສອຽ (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · nl koor (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · fi kuoro (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · alt припев (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · lv refrēns (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · es coro (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · mi korihi (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · de Chorus (feature or setting in electronic music that makes one instrument sound like many) · sl refren (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · km ឆា៎ (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · hu refrén (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ca tornada (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · es coro ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · sq refren (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · bg при́пев (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · be рэфрэ́н (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · es coro (group of people in a performance who recite together) · ar لَازِمَة (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · nl refrein (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · ar كَوْرَس ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · fr chorale (group of people in a performance who recite together) · da refræn (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · fi kuoro ((Ancient Greece, historical) group of singers and dancers in a theatrical performance or religious festival who commented on the main performance in speech or song) · nn refreng (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · sh rèfrēn (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · de Chor (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · th คณะนักร้องประสานเสียง (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · lo ອະນຸບົດ (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · pl chórek (feature or setting in electronic music that makes one instrument sound like many) · el χορωδία (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · ru хор (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · gl coro (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · th คณะประสานเสียง (group of singers performing together — see also choir) · sh при́пјев (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · cs refrén (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain) · bg хор (group of people in a performance who recite together) · fr refrain (part of a song repeated between verses — see also refrain)

chorus en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈkɔːɹəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈkoːɹəs/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • (California, Southern) audio
  • /ˈkoɹəs/ (Canada, General-American)

Etymology

The noun is borrowed from Medieval Latin chorus (“church choir”), Latin chorus (“group of dancers and singers; dance”), from Ancient Greek χορός (khorós, “group of dancers and singers, choir, chorus; dance accompanied by song; round dance”); The verb is derived from the noun. Doublet of choir, chore, and hora.

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To sing (a song), express (a sentiment), or recite or say (words) in chorus.
    • I also remember a Children's Day celebration organised by our local academy where the little Westerners performed a piece called The Just War: […] They jumped right up and, while they were suspended in the air, drove their bayonets into an imaginary enemy's throat, chorusing 'Kill! kill! kill!' 2009, Dai Sijie, chapter 3, in Adriana Hunter, transl., Once on a Moonless Night (A Borzoi Book), 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, →ISBN, page 93:
    • In the middle of the little woody bay, or rather basin, which received the scanty waters of the stream, an armed sloop lay at anchor, and he heard the din of license and carousal on board,—the hasty oath—the hearty laugh—and the boisterous song, chorussed by a score of rough voices, which made the bay re-echo. 1826, Allan Cunningham, chapter V, in Paul Jones; a Romance. […], volume II, Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd; London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, & Green, →OCLC, page 125:
    • […] I could not even affect to join in the stereotyped "Oh, thank you!" which was chorused around me. 1893, Lewis Carroll [pseudonym; Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], “Jabbering and Jam”, in Sylvie and Bruno Concluded, London; New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 157:
    • Again the women chorussed their approval. 1981, Wole Soyinka, chapter XIII, in Aké: The Years of Childhood (The Vintage Library of Contemporary World Literature), Aventura Books edition, New York, N.Y.: Vintage, published September 1983, →ISBN, page 194:
    • The evil spirit caught up with him, unwound his trunk that was like a python, wrapped it around Pig and carried him back in triumph to the cave. The devilish host chorused a paean of victory as they swarmed back. 1982–1984, Wu Cheng’en, “When the Heart Spirit Stays in the Home the Demons Submit; the Mother of Wood Helps Bring Monsters to the Truth”, in W[illiam] J[ohn] F[rancis] Jenner, transl., Journey to the West, volume III, Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, published 1997, →ISBN, page 178:
    • Elsewhere, within the walls of other charity houses, orphans' voices chorused hymns or recitations from Scripture, […] 1999, Simon Schama, “Amsterdam Anatomized”, in Rembrandt’s Eyes (A Borzoi Book), New York: N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, →ISBN, part 4 (The Prodigal), section i (The City in Five Senses), page 315:
    • The Cottons chorused grateful acknowledgement. 1955, Evelyn E. Smith, “Weather Prediction”, in Isaac Asimov, Terry Carr, Martin H[arry] Greenberg, editors, 100 Great Fantasy Short Stories, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, published 1984, →ISBN:
    • From Peking to Berlin the rulers of the Communist world dutifully chorused delight at [Nikita] Khrushchev's coup. 1957 December 15, “Satellites: The Quavering Chorus”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC:
    • But soon they streamed ashore, fresh-faced young sailormen in small and large parties directed by ship's officers and Russian embassy guides. They drove to London, to Salisbury Cathedral, to Windsor Castle, chorusing sea chanteys and waving at girls. 1953 June 22, “Great Britain: Two-way Scrutiny”, in Thomas Stanley Matthews, editor, Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC:
    • Shortly afterwards, all England was engaged in chorussing his favourite ditty— […] 1826, [Walter Scott], chapter XIV, in Woodstock; Or, The Cavalier. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, →OCLC, page 362:
  2. (transitive) To express concurrence with (something said by another person); to echo.
    • "Yes," said the king; "Come, Hop-Frog, lend us your assistance. Characters, my fine fellow; we stand in need of characters—all of us—ha! ha! ha!" and as this was seriously meant for a joke, his laugh was chorused by the seven. 1849 March 17, Edgar Allan Poe, “Hop-Frog”, in The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe: […], volumes II (Poems and Miscellanies), New York, N.Y.: J. S. Redfield, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 458:
  3. (rare, transitive) 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 January (indicated as 1700), [Daniel Defoe], “Part II”, in The True-Born Englishman. A Satyr, [London: s.n.], →OCLC, page 55:
  4. (intransitive) To sing the chorus or refrain of a song.
    • 1785, James Boswell, The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson, LL.D, Wednesday, 8th September, 1773, http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/6018/pg6018-images.html 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.
  5. (intransitive) 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, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XXX. Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq.”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume VI, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 99:
    • Six State Commissioners of Education gloomily chorused about retrenchments, pay cuts and shut-down schools in Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, Washington, Massachusetts and Maine. 1933 August 14, “No Slice for Teachers”, in Time:
    • Others in the crowded bus, having nothing better to do, took up the cry, and soon many of the higglers were chorusing about the ugliness of the fisherman playing dominoes. 1986, Anthony Winkler, chapter 2, in The Painted Canoe, University of Chicago Press, page 20:
    • When I asked that question in the House recently, a number of Tel Aviv's little echoes in the Chamber chorused that Israel was a democracy. 1998 November 25, George Galloway, Hansard:
    • The animals crowded round the van. "Good-bye, Boxer!" they chorused, "good-bye!" 1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter IX, in Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, →OCLC; republished as Animal Farm (eBook no. 0100011h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, March 2008:
    • Without an abatement agreement there would have been no chorusing from the government about the great success and triumph that Fontainebleau represented for Britain. 1985 July 1, George Robertson, Hansard, archived from the original on 12 Feb 2019:
  6. (intransitive) To echo in unison another person's words.
    • Then she shouted: "Viva our Lady of Grace," and the crowd chorused. 1947 October 20, “Miracle Man”, in Time:
  7. (intransitive) 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, Tanith Lee, Night's Sorceries, New York: Daw Books, page 122:
    • 1998, Italo Calvino, The Path to the Spiders' Nests, translated by Archibald Colquhoun, revised by Martin McLaughlin, Hopewell, NJ: The Ecco Press, 1998, Chapter Two, p. 51, The hens are now sleeping in rows on their perches in the coops, and the frogs are out of the water and chorusing away along the bed of the whole torrent, from source to mouth.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
chorusses Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres rare lexicographic
chorusing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
chorused Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
chorused Tense=Past lexicographic
choruses Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
chorussing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part rare lexicographic
chorussed Tense=Past rare lexicographic
chorussed Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part rare lexicographic

Deriveds

out-chorus · choruser

Synonyms

duet

Translations (2)

mi kamu (to sing the chorus or refrain of a song) · es corear (to sing the chorus or refrain of a song)