orchestra

/ˈɔː.kɪs.tɹə/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: orchestras · orchestrae

Sense 1

Meaning · English

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.

Noun

Examples

The orchestra plays music for the dancers to dance to in the 19th century-styled dance hall.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A semicircular space in front of the stage used by the chorus in Ancient Greek and Hellenistic theatres.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “orchestra” mean?

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.

Is “orchestra” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.