chant
a short, simple melody, especially one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.
a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.
the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.
any monotonous song.
a song; singing: the chant of a bird.
a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.
a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.
to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, especially in a church service.
to sing.
to celebrate in song.
to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.
to sing.
to utter a chant.
Origin of chant
1- Also Obsolete, chaunt [chawnt, chahnt] /tʃɔnt, tʃɑnt/ .
Other words from chant
- chant·a·ble, adjective
- chant·ing·ly, adverb
- half-chanted, adjective
- un·chant·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use chant in a sentence
The whir of the circling NYPD helicopter muffled their chants calling for unity and calling out police brutality.
Protesters Demand Justice For Gurley As Gap Grows Between Cops and NYC | M.L. Nestel | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTKendrick rapidly chants these last lines in repetition with Bilal and Anna Wise sing-shouting behind him, like a rallying cry.
Kendrick Lamar Shuts Down ‘The Colbert Report’ with Untitled Track | Charlise Ferguson | December 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTStanding in one place, you could hear four different chants depending on which way you turned.
Eric Garner Protests: ‘It’s Like Vietnam’ | Abby Haglage, Caitlin Dickson, Jacob Siegel, Chris Allbritton | December 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe chants continued in front of the high-end department store.
‘They Let Him Off?’ Scenes from NYC in Disbelief | Jacob Siegel | December 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn defiance, I held my ticket above my head, which triggered the spitting and chants of “How Dare You!”
Hence Shakespeare speaks of 'the lark, that tirra-lyra chants,' Wint.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems | Geoffrey ChaucerThe lighter chants are in threes or fours, and consist of iambics and trochees irregularly.
The Indian in his Wigwam | Henry R. SchoolcraftAnd, as in the other chants led by her, the Indian women took up this one in frenzied yells of rage.
The Treasure Trail | Marah Ellis RyanIsis figures alternately in the Egyptian chants as mother, wife, sister, and daughter of Osiris.
Myths of Babylonia and Assyria | Donald A. MackenzieI am of course thoroughly familiar with these war chants, rituals, etc.
Zui Fetiches | Frank Hamilton Cushing
British Dictionary definitions for chant
/ (tʃɑːnt) /
a simple song or melody
a short simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one note, as in the recitation of psalms
a psalm or canticle performed by using such a melody
a rhythmic or repetitious slogan, usually spoken or sung, as by sports supporters, etc
monotonous or singsong intonation in speech
to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant
to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously
to speak or say monotonously as if intoning a chant
Origin of chant
1Derived forms of chant
- chanting, noun, adjective
- chantingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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