wind chimes

American  

[wind] / wɪnd /

plural noun

1. an arrangement of bells, bamboo pipes, or glass or ceramic fragments hung so as to strike each other and tinkle when moved by the wind or, in orchestration, touched by the hand.

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wind chimes British  

/ wɪnd /

plural noun

1. a decorative arrangement of small discs of metal, shell, etc, hung near a window or door, that shake together with a tinkling sound in a draught

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Etymology

Origin of wind chimes

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Step closer and you hear the contraption appearing to breathe, a tinkling sound like wind chimes emanating from the cooling mechanism that keeps its innards colder than outer space.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

Her shadow interacts with the physical world, too, making wind chimes whistle with a wag of her fingers — a deliciously spooky detail the movie doesn’t make enough hay out of.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2025

Surrounding houses are similar: Metal and glass crosses decorate gardens and hang from porches next to twinkling wind chimes; you’d be hard-pressed to find a home without an American flag waving out front, too.

From Slate • Aug. 12, 2024

On a recent morning, a 16-month-old boy toddled up a small embankment to touch wind chimes hanging from trees.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2024

It’s like the pinging of wind chimes at dawn on the Gulf of Mexico combined with the sound of ocean waves against the shore.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone