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Quire: meaning, definitions and examples

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quire

 

[ kwaɪər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

quantity of paper

A quire is a unit of measure for paper, traditionally consisting of 24 or sometimes 25 sheets. It is used commonly in the context of printing and paper manufacturing.

Synonyms

bundle, paper pack, sheet

Examples of usage

  • I need to buy a quire of paper for my printer.
  • The bookstore had quire bundles on sale.
  • She purchased a quire of specialty paper for her project.
Context #2 | Noun

musical term

In another context, a quire refers to a group of singers or a choir, particularly in historical or ecclesiastical settings. It emphasizes the aspect of singing or vocal harmony.

Synonyms

choir, vocal group

Examples of usage

  • The church's quire performed beautifully during the service.
  • He joined the school quire to improve his singing skills.
  • The quire's harmony resonated throughout the cathedral.

Translations

Translations of the word "quire" in other languages:

🇵🇹 quire

🇮🇳 क्वायर

🇩🇪 Lage

🇮🇩 lembar

🇺🇦 зошит

🇵🇱 zeszyt

🇯🇵 クワイア

🇫🇷 cahier

🇪🇸 cuaderno

🇹🇷 defter

🇰🇷 노트

🇸🇦 دفتر

🇨🇿 sešit

🇸🇰 zošit

🇨🇳 本子

🇸🇮 zvezek

🇮🇸 skjaldbók

🇰🇿 дәптер

🇬🇪 ბლოკნოტი

🇦🇿 qeydlər

🇲🇽 cuaderno

Word origin

The word 'quire' originates from the Latin word 'quaterni', meaning 'four each'. It initially referred to a set of four sheets of paper that were folded together to create a booklet or a gathering of leaves in a manuscript. This practice was common in medieval Europe, where sheets of parchment or paper would be folded and stitched together to form what we now understand as a book. Over time, the term evolved to refer to a collection of sheets or gatherings of paper, leading to its modern usage in the printing and publishing industry as a measure of paper quantity. The term has also adopted musical connotations, stemming from the historical use of the term to describe groups of singers participating in religious or formal music-making contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,098, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.