orchestral

UK: /ɔː^rˈkɛstrəl/ US: /ɔrˈkɛstrəl/ ,(ôr kes′trəl)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

or•ches•tral  (ôr kes′trəl), adj. 

1. Music and Dance of, pertaining to, or resembling an orchestra.
2. Music and Dance composed for or performed by an orchestra:
   orchestral works.

• orchestr(a) + -al¹ 1805–15

or•ches′tral•ly, adv. 

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

or•ches•tra /ˈɔrkəstrə, -kɛstrə/   n. [countable] , pl. -tras. 

1. Music and Dance a group of performers on various musical instruments, including esp. strings, winds, and drums, who play music together.
2. Architecture, Show Business
   • Show Business the space reserved for the musicians, usually the front part of the main floor (ˈor•ches•tra ˌpit.)
   • Show Business the entire main-floor space for the audience.
   • the front section of seats on the main floor.
3. Architecture, Show Business (in ancient theaters) the circular space in front of the stage, used for the chorus or reserved for important persons.

or•ches•tral /ɔrˈkɛstrəl/  adj. [before a noun]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

or•ches•tra  (ôr′kə strə), n. 

1. Music and Dance a group of performers on various musical instruments, including esp. stringed instruments of the viol class, clarinets and flutes, cornets and trombones, drums, and cymbals, for playing music, as symphonies, operas, popular music, or other compositions.
2. Architecture (in a modern theater)
   • Show Business the space reserved for the musicians, usually the front part of the main floor (or′chestra pit′).
   • Show Business the entire main-floor space for spectators.
   • the parquet.
3. Architecture, Show Business (in the ancient Greek theater) the circular space in front of the stage, allotted to the chorus.
4. Architecture, Show Business (in the Roman theater) a similar space reserved for persons of distinction.

• Greek orché̄stra the space on which the chorus danced, derivative of orcheîsthai to dance
• Latin orchēstra
• 1590–1600