orchestra
UK: ˈɔːkɪstrə | US: ˈɔːrkɪstrə
n. a large group of musicians who play together on various instruments, typically including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion
n. the semicircular space in front of a theater stage where the orchestra performs
n. (historical) the ground floor of a theater, originally reserved for dancing or musical performances
orchestra = orch<dance> + estra<place>
- orch (from Greek orkheisthai <to dance>)
- estra (from Greek -tra <place or instrument suffix>)
Etymology Origin:
The word "orchestra" traces back to ancient Greek theater, where the orchestra was the circular space in front of the stage where the chorus danced and sang. Over time, as musical performances became more complex, the term shifted to refer to the group of musicians themselves. The morpheme orch- reflects its dance-related roots, while -estra denotes a designated space, illustrating how the word evolved from a physical area to a collective of performers.
The orchestra played a stunning rendition of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
Tickets for the orchestra section of the theater offer the best acoustics.
She has been a violinist in the city’s premier orchestra for over a decade.
In ancient Greece, the orchestra was central to theatrical performances.
The conductor raised his baton, and the orchestra began the overture.