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chorus. → compare VERSE 2 [C+sing./pl. v] a group of people who sing together: the Brighton Festival Chorus 3 [C] a piece of music written to be sung by such a group 4 [C+sing./pl. v] a group of dancers, singers, or actors who play a supporting part in a film or show: The chorus is/are dressed as fairies. | She's a star, but I'm just a chorus girl. 5 [S(off)] something said by many people at one time: The election results were greeted by a chorus of groans. 6 [C] tech a) (in ancient Greek plays) a group of actors who used poetry and music to explain or give opinions on the action of the play b) (in Elizabethan plays) a person who makes a speech before, after, or during the play, explaining or giving opinions on the action of the play → see also DAWN CHORUS
chorus² v [T] to sing or say at the same time: The papers all chorused the praises of the President.
chose /tʃəʊz/ past tense of CHOOSE
cho-sen /'tʃəʊzən/ past participle of CHOOSE → see also WELL-CHOSEN
chosen 'people n [the P] any of various peoples who believe they are chosen by God, especially the JEWS
Chou En-lai /ˌtʃaʊ en 'laɪ/ → see ZHOU ENLAI
chow¹ /tʃaʊ/ also 'chow chow n a dog with a thick coat and a blue tongue, originally bred in China
chow² n [U] slang food
chow³ v
chow down phr v [I; T(=chow sthg. ↔ down)] AmE slang to eat as though one is very hungry, and showing pleasure
chow-der /'tʃaʊdə/ n [U] a thick soup prepared from bits of fish and other sea animals (SHELLFISH), vegetables, meat, and often milk: clam chowder
chow mein /ˌtʃaʊ 'men/ n [U] a Chinese dish made of bits of vegetables and meat or chicken mixed with NOODLES → compare CHOP SUEY
Chré-ti-en, Jean /'kreɪtiɛn||kreɪ'tjɛn, ʒɔ̃lɪʒɑ/ (1934–) the Prime Minister of Canada from 1993 to 2003 and the leader of the LIBERAL PARTY (1990–2003)
Chrétien de Troyes /ˌkreɪtiɛn də 'trwɑː||kreɪˌtjn-/ (late 12th century) a French poet who wrote five long poems about King ARTHUR and his followers, which influenced many other writers → see also ARTHURIAN LEGEND
Christ¹ /kraɪst/ n 1 also Jesus Christ, Jesus the man on whose life, death and teaching Christianity is based, believed to be the son of God → see JESUS¹ (USAGE) 2 the Christ the religious leader who Christians believe saves the world
Christ² also Jesus Christ, ,Christ Al'mighty interj an expression used to express annoyance or surprise etc; many Christians find this use offensive: Oh Christ! I've left my keys at home.
chris-ten /'krɪsən/ v [T] 1 to make someone (especially a baby) a member of a Christian Church by the ceremony of BAPTISM and usually the giving of a name; BAPTIZE: The baby was christened by the priest. | [+obj+n] We christened our baby John. | (fig.) The ship was christened the Queen Mary. (=given this name at a ceremony) | (fig.) Party members who did not support her policies were christened (=given the NICKNAME) 'Wets'. 2 infml, especially BrE to use for the first time: Have you christened your new car yet? —ing n [C;U]
Chris-ten-dom /'krɪsəndəm/ n [U] old-fash all the Christian people or countries in the world
Chris-tian¹ /'krɪstʃən, -tiən/ n [C] 1 a person who believes in the ideas taught by Jesus Christ or belongs to a Christian church 2 infml a good person
Christian² adj 1 believing the ideas taught by Jesus Christ, or belonging to a Christian church: Christian ministers 2 based on the ideas taught by Jesus Christ: Christian doctrine 3 also christian behaving in a good, kind way: Laughing at his misfortune wasn't a very christian act.
Christian³ the main character in the book The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
Christian 'Aid a Christian CHARITY organization that provides money, equipment, advice etc in order to help poorer countries develop their farming and industry
Christian Coa'lition, the a RIGHT-WING Christian political group in the US, which tries to influence government decisions, so that laws are based on traditional Christian morals. It is known for opposing ABORTION and equal rights for women and HOMOSEXUALS.
Christian 'Democrat n a member of the Christian Democrat Union (CDU), a RIGHT-OF-CENTRE political party which is one of the main parties in Germany —Christian Democrat adj
Christian 'era n [the+S] the system of time counted from the birth of Christ → see also AD, BC, CE
Chris-ti-an-i-ty /ˌkrɪsti'ænɪti/ n [U] the religion based on the life and teachings of Christ. Christianity began in Palestine in the first century and was spread by missionaries (MISSIONARY). In the West it later split into a number of related divisions. The three main divisions of the Christian Church are the Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Churches: He converted to Christianity in 1987. | 'Love thy neighbour' is one of the basic tenets of Christianity.
'Christian name n [C] the name someone is given when they are christened (CHRISTEN), or someone's first name; GIVEN NAME especially AmE: His Christian name is Michael.
Christian 'Science n [U] a branch of Christianity started by Mary Baker Eddy in America in 1866. It includes the belief that illness is cured by means of faith. Christian Scientists do not take medicines or have SURGERY; instead, they talk with a Christian Science Practitioner who helps them find a way to cure or deal with their illness according to their religion.
—entist n
Christian 'Science ,Monitor, The a US daily newspaper, owned by the Christian Science church, which is known for its articles about politics, national and international news, and for its short stories (SHORT STORY)
Chris-tie, Ag-a-tha /'krɪsti, 'ægəθə/ (1890–1976) a British writer known for her many popular novels about murders and the DETECTIVES who try to find out who did them. Her most famous characters are Miss MARPLE and Hercule POIROT, and two of her best-known books are Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, which have both been made into films.
Christie, John Re-gi-nald Hal-li-day /dʒɒn 'redʒɪnəld 'hælɪdeɪ|| dɑːn/ (1898–1953) a British sex killer, who strangled six women, including his wife and some prostitutes, at his home at 10 Rillington Place, West London. Bodies were found hidden in a cupboard, under the floorboards and buried in the garden in 1953. In 1950 Timothy Evans, who lived in a flat at Rillington Place, had been executed after the bodies of his wife and baby were found. At his trial, Christie admitted a seventh killing, that of Mrs Evans, but denied murdering the baby. Christie was executed and Evans was given a posthumous free pardon in 1966.
Christie, Ju-lie /'dʒuːli/ (1940–) a British actress, born in India, sometimes described as 'the spirit of the swinging sixties'. She won an Oscar for Darling (1965) and her other films include Dr Zhivago (1965), Far from the Madding Crowd (1967), and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004).
Christie, Lin-ford /'lɪnfːd||–ərd/ (1960–) a British SPRINTER (=someone who runs in fast races over short distances) who won a GOLD MEDAL at the 1992 Olympic Games
Chris-tie's /'krɪstiz/ trademark a famous AUCTION HOUSE with its main offices in London and New York City, where valuable paintings, old furniture, rare books etc are sold
Christ-mas /'krɪsməs/ 1 Christmas Day a special day in the Christian religion on December 25th, when people celebrate the birth of Christ. It is also a public holiday: Christmas dinner | a Christmas present → see also BOXING DAY, CHRISTMAS CARD, CHRISTMAS TREE 2 the period just before and after Christmas Day: They usually go skiing at