chime
1an apparatus for striking a bell so as to produce a musical sound, as one at the front door of a house by which visitors announce their presence.
Often chimes .
a set of bells or of slabs of metal, stone, wood, etc., producing musical tones when struck.
a musical instrument consisting of such a set, especially a glockenspiel.
the musical tones thus produced.
to sound harmoniously or in chimes as a set of bells: The church bells chimed at noon.
to produce a musical sound by striking a bell, gong, etc.; ring chimes: The doorbell chimed.
to speak in cadence or singsong.
to harmonize; agree: The scenery chimed perfectly with the play's eerie mood.
to give forth (music, sound, etc.), as a bell or bells.
to strike (a bell, set of bells, etc.) so as to produce musical sound.
to put, bring, indicate, announce, etc., by chiming: Bells chimed the hour.
to utter or repeat in cadence or singsong: The class chimed a greeting to the new teacher.
chime in,
to break suddenly and unwelcomely into a conversation, as to express agreement or voice an opinion.
to harmonize with, as in singing.
to be consistent or compatible; agree: The new building will not chime in with the surrounding architecture.
Origin of chime
1Other words from chime
- chimer, noun
- un·chim·ing, adjective
Other definitions for chime (2 of 2)
the edge or brim of a cask, barrel, or the like, formed by the ends of the staves projecting beyond the head or bottom.
Origin of chime
2- Also chimb, chine .
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use chime in a sentence
The changes are mostly subtle, as in the case of the newly recorded startup chime.
The sound rang out against the chime of the machine, and it was as if we’d become one.
And the bells chimed for victory at 1211 Avenue of the Americas.
"Perry" chimed in: "They don't want to take blame," he said of the police union attacking De Blasio.
Justice League Vigil for Slain NYPD Officers Asks Whose Life Matters | Olivia Nuzzi | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTEven Xi chimed in on the debate the other day by saying that the blue in ‘APEC blue’ should remain permanent.
Obama and Xi Jinping Say They’ll Work Together to Save Environment | Ben Leung | November 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“Lorena Bobbitt has committed the ultimate revolutionary act of contemporary feminism,” chimed Camille Paglia.
Her red-haired friend Svetlana chimed in, “Between two evils we choose Russia.”
Putin Has Predicted Civil War in Ukraine. So Do Many of Its People | Anna Nemtsova | April 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSuddenly the clock in the big hall below chimed two upon its peal of silvery bells.
The Doctor of Pimlico | William Le QueuxOut of doors was the Alpine glow, the evening bells chimed, the daughters of the sunbeams sang: "May the best thing happen!"
Rudy and Babette | Hans Christian AndersenMiss S. chimed in with the Major; the neighborhood too seemed in the same tune.
Tristram of Blent | Anthony Hope"Yes, yes," chimed in May enthusiastically, in reference to the man and not to the slang.
A Houseful of Girls | Sarah Tytler"Oh, that's square," Marmot chimed in; and the others repeated the formula.
Colonial Born | G. Firth Scott
British Dictionary definitions for chime (1 of 2)
/ (tʃaɪm) /
an individual bell or the sound it makes when struck
(often plural) the machinery employed to sound a bell in this way
Also called: bell a percussion instrument consisting of a set of vertical metal tubes of graduated length, suspended in a frame and struck with a hammer
a harmonious or ringing sound: the chimes of children's laughter
agreement; concord
to sound (a bell) or (of a bell) to be sounded by a clapper or hammer
to produce (music or sounds) by chiming
(tr) to indicate or show (time or the hours) by chiming
(tr) to summon, announce, or welcome by ringing bells
(intr foll by with) to agree or harmonize
to speak or recite in a musical or rhythmic manner
Origin of chime
1Derived forms of chime
- chimer, noun
British Dictionary definitions for chime (2 of 2)
chimb chine (tʃaɪn)
/ (tʃaɪm) /
the projecting edge or rim of a cask or barrel
Origin of chime
2Collins 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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