chant

American  

[chant, chahnt] / tʃænt, tʃɑnt /

Obsolete, chaunt

noun

1. 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.

2. a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.

3. the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.

4. any monotonous song.

5. a song; singing.

   the chant of a bird.

6. a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.

7. a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.

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verb (used with object)

1. to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, especially in a church service.

2. to sing.

3. to celebrate in song.

4. to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.

verb (used without object)

1. to sing.

2. to utter a chant.

chant British  

/ tʃɑːnt /

noun

1. a simple song or melody

2. a short simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one note, as in the recitation of psalms

3. a psalm or canticle performed by using such a melody

4. a rhythmic or repetitious slogan, usually spoken or sung, as by sports supporters, etc

5. monotonous or singsong intonation in speech

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verb

1. to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant

2. to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously

3. to speak or say monotonously as if intoning a chant

Other Word Forms

• chantable adjective
• chanting noun
• chantingly adverb
• half-chanted adjective
• unchanted adjective

Etymology

Origin of chant

First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English chanten, from Middle French chanter, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere “to sing”; (noun) from French chant, from Latin cantus; canto

Example Sentences

Ahead of the burial on Friday, locals also carried those portraits and flags while chanting pro-Gaddafi slogans and declaring that "the martyrs' blood will not be shed in vain".

From Barron's

How about a, “Let’s Go Dodgers” chant for the longtime residents with no criminal record who spent last October huddled around their TV sets clinging to your victories as reason for hope?

From Los Angeles Times

Many of those fans took to chanting for the firing of general manager Nico Collins, who is said to have initiated the deal.

From Los Angeles Times

Then they’d all chant and clap—“Mother Mother, clap clap! Mother Mother, clap clap!” and then the two girls would jump into the air, clapping their hands in rhythm.

From Literature

Fans chanted against the owners and held aloft banners as flares filled the air on Sir Matt Busby Way.

From Barron's

Related Words

• hymn
• mantra
• melody
• shout
• singing
• tune