Found 1 items, similar to Choir organ.
English → English (gcide) Definition: Choir organ Organ \Or"gan\, n. [L. organum, Gr. ?; akin to ? work, and E. work: cf. F. organe. See Work, and cf. Orgue, Orgy.] [1913 Webster] 1. An instrument or medium by which some important action is performed, or an important end accomplished; as, legislatures, courts, armies, taxgatherers, etc., are organs of government. [1913 Webster] 2. (Biol.) A natural part or structure in an animal or a plant, capable of performing some special action (termed its function), which is essential to the life or well-being of the whole; as, the heart, lungs, etc., are organs of animals; the root, stem, foliage, etc., are organs of plants. [1913 Webster] Note: In animals the organs are generally made up of several tissues, one of which usually predominates, and determines the principal function of the organ. Groups of organs constitute a system. See System. [1913 Webster] 3. A component part performing an essential office in the working of any complex machine; as, the cylinder, valves, crank, etc., are organs of the steam engine. [1913 Webster] 4. A medium of communication between one person or body and another; as, the secretary of state is the organ of communication between the government and a foreign power; a newspaper is the organ of its editor, or of a party, sect, etc. A newsletter distributed within an organization is often called its house organ. [1913 Webster +PJC] 5. [Cf. AS. organ, fr. L. organum.] (Mus.) A wind instrument containing numerous pipes of various dimensions and kinds, which are filled with wind from a bellows, and played upon by means of keys similar to those of a piano, and sometimes by foot keys or pedals; -- formerly used in the plural, each pipe being considered an organ. [1913 Webster] The deep, majestic, solemn organs blow. --Pope. [1913 Webster] Note: Chaucer used the form orgon as a plural. [1913 Webster] The merry orgon . . . that in the church goon [go]. [1913 Webster] Barrel organ, Choir organ, Great organ, etc. See under Barrel, Choir, etc. Cabinet organ (Mus.), an organ of small size, as for a chapel or for domestic use; a reed organ. Organ bird (Zo["o]l.), a Tasmanian crow shrike (Gymnorhina organicum ). It utters discordant notes like those of a hand organ out of tune. Organ fish (Zo["o]l.), the drumfish. Organ gun. (Mil.) Same as Orgue (b) . Organ harmonium (Mus.), an harmonium of large capacity and power. Organ of Corti (Anat.), a complicated structure in the cochlea of the ear, including the auditory hair cells, the rods or fibers of Corti, the membrane of Corti, etc. See Note under Ear. Organ pipe. See Pipe, n., 1. Organ-pipe coral. (Zo["o]l.) See Tubipora. Organ point (Mus.), a passage in which the tonic or dominant is sustained continuously by one part, while the other parts move. [1913 Webster] Choir \Choir\, n. [OE. quer, OF. cuer, F. ch[oe]ur, fr. L. chorus a choral dance, chorus, choir, fr. Gr. ?, orig. dancing place; prob. akin to ? inclosure, L. hortus garden, and E. yard. See Chorus.] 1. A band or organized company of singers, especially in church service. [Formerly written also quire.] [1913 Webster] 2. That part of a church appropriated to the singers. [1913 Webster] 3. (Arch.) The chancel. [1913 Webster] Choir organ (Mus.), one of the three or five distinct organs included in the full organ, each separable from the rest, but all controlled by one performer; a portion of the full organ, complete in itself, and more practicable for ordinary service and in the accompanying of the vocal choir. Choir screen, Choir wall (Arch.), a screen or low wall separating the choir from the aisles. Choir service, the service of singing performed by the choir. --T. Warton. [1913 Webster]