1. a musical setting of a Christian prayer beginning with the words ‘Kyrie eleison’ (Lord, have mercy)
Usage: liturgical music
2. the prayer itself in Christian liturgy asking for God’s mercy
Usage: religious

Examples

• The choir performed a beautiful kyrie during the Sunday service.
• Mozart’s Requiem includes a haunting kyrie movement.
• The congregation sang the kyrie in Latin.
• Bach composed several kyries for his masses.
• The kyrie is traditionally sung at the beginning of the Mass.
• The priest led the kyrie before the main service began.