charm

¹ American  

[chahrm] / tʃɑrm /

noun

1. a power of pleasing or attracting, as through personality or beauty: the charm of a mountain lake.

   charm of manner;

   the charm of a mountain lake.

   Synonyms:

   allurement, attractiveness

2. a trait or feature imparting this power.

3. charms, attractiveness.

4. a trinket to be worn on a bracelet, necklace, etc.

   Synonyms:

   bauble

5. something worn or carried on one's person for its supposed magical effect; amulet.

   Synonyms:

   talisman

6. any action supposed to have magical power.

   Synonyms:

   spell, enchantment

7. the chanting or recitation of a magic verse or formula.

8. a verse or formula credited with magical power.

   Synonyms:

   spell

9. Physics. a quantum number assigned the value +1 for one kind of quark, −1 for its antiquark, and 0 for all other quarks. C

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verb (used with object)

1. to delight or please greatly by beauty, attractiveness, etc.; enchant.

   She charmed us with her grace.

   Synonyms:

   bewitch, allure, ravish, enrapture, entrance, captivate, fascinate

2. to act upon (someone or something) with or as with a compelling or magical force.

   to charm a bird from a tree.

3. to endow with or protect by supernatural powers.

4. to gain or influence through personal charm.

   He charmed a raise out of his boss.

verb (used without object)

1. to be fascinating or pleasing.

2. to use charms.

3. to act as a charm.

charm ² American  

[chahrm] / tʃɑrm /

noun

British Dialect.

1. blended singing of birds, children, etc.

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charm ¹ British  

/ tʃɑːm /

noun

1. dialect a loud noise, as of a number of people chattering or of birds singing

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charm ² British  

/ tʃɑːm /

noun

1. the quality of pleasing, fascinating, or attracting people

2. a pleasing or attractive feature

3. a small object worn or kept for supposed magical powers of protection; amulet; talisman

4. a trinket worn on a bracelet

5. a magic spell; enchantment

6. a formula or action used in casting such a spell

7. physics an internal quantum number of certain elementary particles, used to explain some scattering experiments

8. perfectly; successfully

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verb

1. to attract or fascinate; delight greatly

2. to cast a magic spell on

3. to protect, influence, or heal, supposedly by magic

4. (tr) to influence or obtain by personal charm

   he charmed them into believing him

charm Scientific  

/ chärm /

1. One of the flavors of quarks, contributing to the charm number—a quantum number—for hadrons.

2. 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.

3. See more at flavor

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charm Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing charm

• (charm the) pants off
• work like a charm

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Other Word Forms

• charmedly
  adverb
• charmer
  noun
• charmless
  adjective
• charmlessly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of charm¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English charme “magical verse or incantation,” from Old French, from Latin carmen “song, magical formula,” from unattested canmen (by dissimilation), equivalent to can(ere) “to sing” + -men noun suffix

Origin of charm²

First recorded in 1520–30 as cherme, dialect variant of chirm “noise, din,” perhaps associated with charm ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “chanting of a magic verse”)

Explanation

A charm is a magical spell or an object that brings luck: it's also a quality of being attractive and pleasing. To charm someone is to attract them. There are several types of charms, but they mostly relate to attraction and good luck. A lucky coin is a charm. The spell of a witch that entrances you is a charm. People with magnetic personalities, who make you want to hang out with them, have charm and are therefore considered charming. Also, to charm someone is to attract them and win them over. Popular politicians charm the masses, and teachers' pets charm their teachers.

Example Sentences

NextEra and Dominion say it will take 12 to 18 months to close the deal, and they’re already on the charm offensive, promising lower costs, greater charitable giving, and employment commitments for Dominion’s existing workers.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

What followed was not quite the charm offensive some might have expected.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

The piece argues that Pratt showed sufficient composure and charm while displaying deference to moderators and occasionally yielding speaking time to Bass, though the article notes he occasionally lapsed into mockery and made unsubstantiated characterizations.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

At his best, Pratt came off as a boisterous bro with enough charm to call himself “humble” without coming off as obnoxious.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

I began, turning my charm first on to Mrs. Maroney and then her irritable offspring.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• attract
• beguile
• bewitch
• cajole
• captivate
• delight
• enamor
• enrapture
• enthrall
• fascinate
• hypnotize
• mesmerize
• please
• tickle
• wow