charm
1a power of pleasing or attracting, as through personality or beauty: charm of manner; the charm of a mountain lake.
a trait or feature imparting this power.
charms, attractiveness.
a trinket to be worn on a bracelet, necklace, etc.
something worn or carried on one's person for its supposed magical effect; amulet.
any action supposed to have magical power.
the chanting or recitation of a magic verse or formula.
a verse or formula credited with magical power.
Physics. a quantum number assigned the value +1 for one kind of quark, −1 for its antiquark, and 0 for all other quarks. Symbol: C: Compare charmed quark.
to delight or please greatly by beauty, attractiveness, etc.; enchant: She charmed us with her grace.
to act upon (someone or something) with or as with a compelling or magical force: to charm a bird from a tree.
to endow with or protect by supernatural powers.
to gain or influence through personal charm: He charmed a raise out of his boss.
to be fascinating or pleasing.
to use charms.
to act as a charm.
Origin of charm
1Other words for charm
Other words from charm
- charm·ed·ly [chahr-mid-lee], /ˈtʃɑr mɪd li/, adverb
- charmer, noun
- charmless, adjective
- charm·less·ly, adverb
Words Nearby charm
Other definitions for charm (2 of 2)
blended singing of birds, children, etc.
Origin of charm
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use charm in a sentence
They even had the tournament’s favorite 98-year-old nun, Sister Jean, as a lucky charm.
Remember Loyola? This Team Is Even Better Than The One That Made The Final Four. | Jake Lourim | February 10, 2021 | FiveThirtyEightHe was friendly and had a captivating charm and a sharp wit, Monteleone said.
Montgomery high school senior, athlete, slain, Howard County police say | Martin Weil | February 8, 2021 | Washington PostPart of the trials’ charm has been the sheer number of participants, the vast majority with little to no chance of making the Olympic team.
USA Swimming shrinks Olympic trials as safety precaution | Rick Maese | January 26, 2021 | Washington PostThe exact recipe was a closely guarded secret, but part of the petite crab cake’s charm was the restraint deployed by the chef.
We lost Johnny’s Half Shell to the pandemic. After 20 years, it deserves a farewell toast. | Tom Sietsema | January 15, 2021 | Washington PostWe can practically see the steam coming out of Pen’s ears as she watches her cousin charm Colin.
‘Bridgerton’ dropped several clues about Lady Whistledown’s identity. Did they add up? | Bethonie Butler | January 6, 2021 | Washington Post
There is charm, oodles of it, but also a steeliness about Gilkes.
William, Kate, and Jay Z’s Favorite Art Star: Alexander Gilkes' World of Rock Stars and Royalty | Tim Teeman | December 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the end, Stephen did not kill young William, which the knight would claim was due to his charm.
England’s Greatest Knight Puts ‘Game of Thrones’ to Shame | William O’Connor | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe charm continues when he waxes on—and on—about the immeasurable respect he has for Cumberbatch, his friend of over 15 years.
From ‘The Good Wife’ to ‘The Imitation Game’: Matthew Goode Wages His Charm Offensive | Kevin Fallon | November 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe system faintly evokes the charm of the Hogwarts houses—without a Sorting Hat, that is.
In the last several months Pyongyang has launched a charm offensive directed at Moscow, Tokyo, and Seoul.
Many of them were delicious in the role; one of them was the embodiment of every womanly grace and charm.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinYet, if one looks closely, under the froth and foppery, some of the charm and perception of the man still shines through.
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope | Colley CibberFeeling sixteen and very foolish, she sank to the edge of a chair and muttered something about the charm of the room.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonPerhaps he is a little conscious of his charm; if so, it is hardly his fault, for hero-worship has been his lot from boyhood.
First Plays | A. A. MilneA great charm in Trevithick's character was his freedom and largeness of view in questions of competition.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis Trevithick
British Dictionary definitions for charm (1 of 2)
/ (tʃɑːm) /
the quality of pleasing, fascinating, or attracting people
a pleasing or attractive feature
a small object worn or kept for supposed magical powers of protection; amulet; talisman
a trinket worn on a bracelet
a magic spell; enchantment
a formula or action used in casting such a spell
physics an internal quantum number of certain elementary particles, used to explain some scattering experiments
like a charm perfectly; successfully
to attract or fascinate; delight greatly
to cast a magic spell on
to protect, influence, or heal, supposedly by magic
(tr) to influence or obtain by personal charm: he charmed them into believing him
Origin of charm
1British Dictionary definitions for charm (2 of 2)
/ (tʃɑːm) /
Southwest English dialect a loud noise, as of a number of people chattering or of birds singing
Origin of charm
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
Scientific definitions for charm
[ chärm ]
One of the flavors of quarks, contributing to the charm number-a quantum number-for hadrons.
A charmed particle is a particle that contains at least one charmed quark or charmed antiquark. The charmed quark was hypothesized to account for the longevity of the J/psi particle and to explain differences in the behavior of leptons and hadrons. See more at flavor.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with charm
In addition to the idioms beginning with charm
- charmed life
- charm the pants off
also see:
- (charm the) pants off
- work like a charm
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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