Choreograph

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒɹiəɡɹɑːf/

Definitions

1. To design and organize a series of coordinated movements intended for dance or performance art
2. To create and set the sequence of movements for a dance or stage presentation
3. To compose a deliberate arrangement of steps and motions for performers to follow

Etymology: "Choreograph" is a back-formation: English speakers took the existing noun "choreography" and, by stripping off the ending "-y," created a new verb from it. The noun came first, built from the Greek roots "khoreia" (dance) and "graphein" (to write), so the verb in effect means "to write down dances," though its sense has broadened well beyond notation. The Greek root "khoreia" itself tells the story of how dance and the chorus were once linked. In ancient Greek drama, the chorus sang and moved together as a group, and the same root gave English "chorus." The idea of writing out steps was a later development, and "choreograph" carries that record-keeping sense into modern use, now applied to any planned sequence of movement, from ballet to stage combat to a synchronized routine.

Synonyms: design, arrange

Antonyms: disarrange, disorganize