chime

1
[ chahym ]
See synonyms for: chimechimedchimeschiming on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. an 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.

  2. 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.

  1. harmonious sound in general; music; melody.

  2. harmonious relation; accord: the battling duo, in chime at last.

verb (used without object),chimed, chim·ing.
  1. to sound harmoniously or in chimes as a set of bells: The church bells chimed at noon.

  2. to produce a musical sound by striking a bell, gong, etc.; ring chimes: The doorbell chimed.

  1. to speak in cadence or singsong.

  2. to harmonize; agree: The scenery chimed perfectly with the play's eerie mood.

verb (used with object),chimed, chim·ing.
  1. to give forth (music, sound, etc.), as a bell or bells.

  2. to strike (a bell, set of bells, etc.) so as to produce musical sound.

  1. to put, bring, indicate, announce, etc., by chiming: Bells chimed the hour.

  2. to utter or repeat in cadence or singsong: The class chimed a greeting to the new teacher.

Verb Phrases
  1. 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

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English chymbe belle “cymbal, chime,” literally, “chime bell,” by false analysis of chimbel, chimble, from Old English cimbal, cimbala, or from Old French chimbe, variant of cimbe, cimble cymbal

Other words from chime

  • chimer, noun
  • un·chim·ing, adjective

Words Nearby chime

Other definitions for chime (2 of 2)

chime2
[ chahym ]

noun
  1. 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
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English chimb(e) “rim of a barrel”; compare Old English cimbing “joining, joint,” cim-stānas “bases of a pillar”; cognate with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch kimme “edge”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use chime in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chime (1 of 2)

chime1

/ (tʃaɪm) /


noun
  1. an individual bell or the sound it makes when struck

  2. (often plural) the machinery employed to sound a bell in this way

  1. 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

  2. a harmonious or ringing sound: the chimes of children's laughter

  3. agreement; concord

verb
    • to sound (a bell) or (of a bell) to be sounded by a clapper or hammer

    • to produce (music or sounds) by chiming

  1. (tr) to indicate or show (time or the hours) by chiming

  1. (tr) to summon, announce, or welcome by ringing bells

  2. (intr foll by with) to agree or harmonize

  3. to speak or recite in a musical or rhythmic manner

Origin of chime

1
C13: probably shortened from earlier chymbe bell, ultimately from Latin cymbalum cymbal

Derived forms of chime

  • chimer, noun

British Dictionary definitions for chime (2 of 2)

chime2

chimb chine (tʃaɪn)

/ (tʃaɪm) /


noun
  1. the projecting edge or rim of a cask or barrel

Origin of chime

2
Old English cimb-; related to Middle Low German kimme outer edge, Swedish kimb

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