cantor

UK: /ˈkæntɔː/ US: /ˈkæntɚ/ ,(kan′tər, -tôr)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

can•tor /ˈkæntɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Judaism the religious official of a synagogue who sings or chants the prayers.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

can•tor  (kan′tər, -tôr), n. 

1. Judaism the religious official of a synagogue who conducts the liturgical portion of a service and sings or chants the prayers and parts of prayers designed to be performed as solos.
2. Religion an official whose duty is to lead the singing in a cathedral or in a collegiate or parish church;
   a precentor.

• Latin: singer, equivalent. to can(ere) to sing + -tor -tor
• 1530–40

Can•tor  (kan′tər; Ger. kän′tôr), n. 

Ge•org  (gā ôrk′), 1845–1918, German mathematician, born in Russia.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cantor / ˈkæntɔː/ noun

1. Also called: chazan a man employed to lead synagogue services, esp to traditional modes and melodies
2. the leader of the singing in a church choir

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin: singer, from canere to sing