chime

[ chahym ]

/ tʃaɪm /

noun

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.

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.
carillon.

harmonious sound in general; music; melody.

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

verb (used without object), chimed, chim·ing.

to sound harmoniously or in chimes as a set of bells: The church bells chimed at noon.

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

to speak in cadence or singsong.

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

verb (used with object), chimed, chim·ing.

to give forth (music, sound, etc.), as a bell or bells.

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

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

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

Verb Phrases

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

1250–1300; Middle English chymbe belle, by false analysis of *chimbel, Old English cimbal cymbal

OTHER WORDS FROM chime

chim·er, noun un·chim·ing, adjective

Words nearby chime

chimaera, chimar, chimb, chimborazo, chimbote, chime, chime hoop, chime in, chimera, chimere, chimeric

British Dictionary definitions for chime in (1 of 3)

chime in

verb (intr, adverb) informal

to join in or interrupt (a conversation), esp repeatedly and unwelcomely

to voice agreement

British Dictionary definitions for chime in (2 of 3)

chime ¹

/ (tʃaɪm) /

noun

an individual bell or the sound it makes when struck

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

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

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

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

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

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

(intr foll by with) to agree or harmonize

to speak or recite in a musical or rhythmic manner

Derived forms of chime

chimer, noun

Word Origin for chime

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

British Dictionary definitions for chime in (3 of 3)

chime ²

chimb chine (tʃaɪn)

/ (tʃaɪm) /

noun

the projecting edge or rim of a cask or barrel

Word Origin for chime

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

Idioms and Phrases with chime in

chime in

Join in harmoniously or in unison, either literally (with music) or figuratively (joining a conversation to express agreement). For example, In this passage I want the altos to chime in with the tenors, or When Mary agreed, her sister chimed in that she'd join her. The literal usage was first recorded in 1681, the figurative in 1838.

chime in with. Be in agreement or compatible with, as in His views chime in with the paper's editorial stance. [Early 1700s]

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

chime

noun

verb (used without object), chimed, chim·ing.

verb (used with object), chimed, chim·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of chime

OTHER WORDS FROM chime

Words nearby chime

British Dictionary definitions for chime in (1 of 3)

verb (intr, adverb) informal

British Dictionary definitions for chime in (2 of 3)

noun

verb

Derived forms of chime

Word Origin for chime

British Dictionary definitions for chime in (3 of 3)

chimb chine (tʃaɪn)

noun

Word Origin for chime

Idioms and Phrases with chime in

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

chime

noun

verb (used without object), chimed, chim·ing.

verb (used with object), chimed, chim·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of chime

OTHER WORDS FROM chime

Words nearby chime

Words related to chime in

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for chime in (1 of 3)

verb (intr, adverb) informal

British Dictionary definitions for chime in (2 of 3)

noun

verb

Derived forms of chime

Word Origin for chime

British Dictionary definitions for chime in (3 of 3)

chimb chine (tʃaɪn)

noun

Word Origin for chime

Idioms and Phrases with chime in

British Dictionary definitions for chime in (1 of 3)