Orchestra
WordNet

noun


(1)   Seating on the main floor in a theater
(2)   A musical organization consisting of a group of instrumentalists including string players
WiktionaryText

Etymology


From < < (an intensification of , from ) + suffix -tra denoting "place".

Noun



  1. A large group of musicians who play together on various instruments, usually including some from strings, woodwind, brass and/or percussion; the instruments played by such a group.
  2. A semicircular space in front of the stage used by the chorus in Ancient Greek and Hellenistic theatres.
  3. The area in a theatre or concert hall where the musicians sit, immediately in front of and below the stage, sometimes (also) used by other performers.

Usage notes

  • In British English, "The orchestra are tuning up" is often used, implying the individual members. In the US, one would almost always hear "The orchestra is tuning up", implying a collective.
 
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