Definition of "quire" in English

noun

1. One-twentieth of a ream of paper; a collection of twenty-four or twenty-five sheets of paper of the same size and quality, unfolded or having a single fold.

2. (bookbinding) A set of leaves which are stitched together, originally a set of four pieces of paper (eight leaves, sixteen pages). This is most often a single signature (i.e. group of four), but may be several nested signatures.

3. A book, poem, or pamphlet.

verb

1. (bookbinding) To prepare quires by stitching together leaves of paper.

noun

1. (architecture) One quarter of a cruciform church, or the architectural area of a church, generally used by the choir; often near the apse.

2. Archaic spelling of choir (“group of people who sing together”).

   • 1597–1598, Joseph Hall, Virgidemiarum Yea, and the prophet of the heav'nly lyre, / Great Solomon sings in the English quire […]

verb

1. (poetic) Alternative spelling of choir (“to sing in concert”).