/ ˈɔːkɪstrə; NAmE ˈɔːrk-/ noun
1.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] a large group of people who play various musical instruments together, led by a conductor :
She plays the flute in the school orchestra.
the Scottish Symphony Orchestra
—see also chamber orchestra , symphony orchestra
2.
the orchestra [ sing. ] ( NAmE ) ( BrE the ˈorchestra stalls ) = the stalls
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek orkhēstra , from orkheisthai to dance.