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

Definition for chime (2 of 2)

chime ²

[ chahym ]

/ tʃaɪm /

noun

the edge or brim of a cask, barrel, or the like, formed by the ends of the staves projecting beyond the head or bottom.

Also chimb, chine.

Origin of chime

1350–1400; Middle English chimb(e); compare Old English cimbing chime; cognate with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch kimme edge

Example sentences from the Web for chime

Fans will have the opportunity to chime in via Twitter and vote on certain aspects of the show.

Inside ‘The Sex Factor’: Where 16 Men and Women Vie For Porn Immortality |Aurora Snow |November 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
If immigration reform is being considered by Congress, Iowa Republican Steve Kingis always sure to chime in.

10 GOP Rebranding Roadblocks |Ben Jacobs |January 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Karl Lagerfeld (always one to chime in) does not approve of the habit.

Diane Kruger Is Chanel’s New Face; Yves Saint Laurent Films Face Off |The Fashion Beast Team |April 8, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez was quick to chime in, dismissing her as a “bandit.”

GOP's New Foreign Affairs Chair Ready to Play Hardball |Sandra McElwaine |February 20, 2011 |DAILY BEAST

Dick stopped for a moment to listen, and as he did so, their chime came to his ears like the sound of his own name.

Dick and His Cat and Other Tales |Various
A clock inside the hall began to chime midnight, and he turned on his heel.

The Education of Eric Lane |Stephen McKenna
An hour passed by, and the chime of a clock striking five dropped down coolly, almost frostily, to the hot and curious crowd.

In the Wilderness |Robert Hichens
Here the sigh lifted and her laugh pealed like a chime of silver bells.

The Haunted Pajamas |Francis Perry Elliott
It was a Sabbath day in late August, and in no month of the year does a Sabbath day so chime with the time.

Corporal Cameron |Ralph Connor

British Dictionary definitions for chime (1 of 2)

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 (2 of 2)

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

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

Definition for chime (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of chime

Example sentences from the Web for chime

British Dictionary definitions for chime (1 of 2)

noun

verb

Derived forms of chime

Word Origin for chime

British Dictionary definitions for chime (2 of 2)

chimb chine (tʃaɪn)

noun

Word Origin for chime

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

Definition for chime (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of chime

Words related to chime

Example sentences from the Web for chime

British Dictionary definitions for chime (1 of 2)

noun

verb

Derived forms of chime

Word Origin for chime

British Dictionary definitions for chime (2 of 2)

chimb chine (tʃaɪn)

noun

Word Origin for chime