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

On the road rising to the Pyrenees, we stop at a posada, a roadside inn where strings of chorizo and peppers hang like wind chimes above the bar.

From Salon • Nov. 8, 2025

Arrive at the bullet train station near the area where Ohtani grew up and you are greeted by metal wind chimes engraved with messages of support and a small glass-enclosed exhibit featuring signed memorabilia.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2024

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

A faint breeze tinkled in the wind chimes on someone’s porch.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt