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Refrain vs Chorus - What's the difference?

refrain | chorus |

Chorus is a synonym of refrain.



As verbs the difference between refrain and chorus

is that refrain is to hold back, to restrain (someone or something) while chorus is to echo a particular sentiment.

As nouns the difference between refrain and chorus

is that refrain is the chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza while chorus is a group of singers and dancers in the religious festivals of ancient Greece.

refrain

English

Etymology 1

From a combination of (etyl) refraindre, (etyl) refreindre (from (etyl) refrangere), and (etyl) refrener, (etyl) refrener (from (etyl) refrenare).

Verb

(en verb)
  • (archaic) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something).
  • * Proverbs i:15 .
  • Refrain thy foot from their path.
  • (reflexive, archaic) To show restraint; to hold oneself back.
  • * 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Acts V:
  • And nowe I saye unto you: refrayne youreselves from these men, and let them alone [...].
  • *
  • his reson aperceyueth it wel that it is synne / agayns the lawe of god / and yet his reson / refreyneth nat his foul delit or talent.
  • * Bible, Proverbs i. 15
  • Refrain thy foot from their path.
  • To stop oneself (from) some action or interference; to abstain.
  • * Bible, Acts v. 38
  • Refrain from these men, and let them alone.
  • * Sir Thomas Browne
  • They refrained therefrom [eating flesh] some time after.
  • *
  • Who, requiring a remedy for his gout, received no other counsel than to refrain cold drink.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) refrain, from the (etyl) verb . See refract and the verb refrain.

    Noun

    (wikipedia refrain) (en noun)
  • The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
  • We hear the wild refrain . Whittier.
  • A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.
  • References

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    chorus

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A group of singers and dancers in the religious festivals of ancient Greece
  • A group of people in a play or performance who recite together.
  • A group of singers; singing group who perform together.
  • The performance of the chorus was awe-inspiring and exhilarating.
  • A repeated part of a song, also called the refrain .
  • ''The catchiest part of most songs is the chorus .
  • A setting or feature in electronic music that makes one voice sound like many.
  • (figuratively) A group of people or animals who make sounds together
  • A chorus of crickets
    A chorus of whiners
  • The noise made by such a group.
  • a chorus of shouts and catcalls
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=October 1 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Everton 0–2 Liverpool , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=At the end of a frantic first 45 minutes, there was still time for Charlie Adam to strike the bar from 20 yards before referee Atkinson departed to a deafening chorus of jeering from Everton's fans.}}
  • (theater) An actor who reads the opening and closing lines of a play.
  • Verb

  • To echo a particular sentiment.
  • To sing the chorus.