Definition of CHIME

chime

Plural: chimes

Noun

  • a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned bells that are struck with a hammer; used as an orchestral instrument
  • A musical instrument producing a sound when struck, similar to a bell (e.g. a tubular metal bar) or actually a bell. Often used in the plural to refer to the set: the chimes.
  • An individual ringing component of such a set.
  • A small bell or other ringing or tone-making device as a component of some other device.
  • The sound of such an instrument or device.
  • A small hammer or other device used to strike a bell.
  • Alternative form of chine (“edge of a cask; part of a ship; etc.”).

Verb

Verb Forms: chimed, chiming, chimes

  • To make a harmonious ringing sound; to agree.
  • emit a sound
    • "bells and gongs chimed"
  • To make the sound of a chime.
  • To cause to sound in harmony; to play a tune, as upon a set of bells; to move or strike in harmony.
  • To utter harmoniously; to recite rhythmically.
  • To agree; to correspond.
  • To make a rude correspondence of sounds; to jingle, as in rhyming.

Examples

  • Chimes sing Sunday morn.
  • Hugo had a recording of someone playing the chimes against a background of surf noise that she found calming.
  • I got up for lunch as soon as the wall clock began chiming noon.
  • Peter removed the C♯ chime from its mounting so that he could get at the dust that had accumulated underneath.
  • Strike the bell with the brass chime hanging on the chain next to it.
  • Sylvia was a chime player in the school orchestra.
  • The copier gave a chime to indicate that it had finished printing.
  • The microwave chimed to indicate that it was done cooking.
  • The other lab's results chimed with mine, so I knew we were on the right track with the research.
  • The perfect 7-letter word made the victory chime in his ears.
  • The professor had stuffed a wad of gum into the chime of his doorbell so that he wouldn't be bothered.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English chime, chim, chimbe, chymbe, a shortening of chimbelle (misinterpreted as chymme-belle, chimbe-belle), from Old English ċimbala, ċimbal (“cymbal”), from Latin cymbalum.

Scrabble Score: 12

chime: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
chime: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
chime: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

chime: valid Words With Friends Word