charm

The definition of charm is something thought to have magic power, piece of jewelry or a person or thing that attracts others.

(noun)

  1. An example of a charm is a rabbit's foot keychain.
  2. An example of a charm is a small silver butterfly pendant worn with other pendants on a bracelet.
  3. An example of a charm is someone with a beautiful and welcoming smile.

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See charm in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

    1. a chanted word, phrase, or verse assumed to have magic power to help or hurt; incantation
    2. the chanting of such a word, phrase, or verse
  1. any object assumed to have such power, as an amulet or talisman
  2. any trinket worn as a decoration on a bracelet, necklace, watch chain, etc.
  3. any action or gesture assumed to have magic power
  4. a quality or feature in someone or something that attracts or delights people
  5. Particle Physics an individuating property of quarks and other elementary particles: it is expressed as a quantum number, with +1 used of a particle that has charm () and 0 used of one that does not

Origin: ME charme < OFr < L carmen, song, verse, charm < *canmen < canere, to sing: see chant

transitive verb

  1. to act on as though by magic; seemingly cast a spell on
  2. to protect from harm as though by magic
  3. to attract or please greatly; enchant; allure; fascinate; delight

intransitive verb

  1. to practice magic
  2. to be charming; please greatly

See charm in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. The power or quality of pleasing or delighting; attractiveness: a breezy tropical setting of great charm.
  2. A particular quality that attracts; a delightful characteristic: A mischievous grin was among the child's many charms.
  3. A small ornament, such as one worn on a bracelet.
  4. An item worn for its supposed magical benefit, as in warding off evil; an amulet.
  5. An action or formula thought to have magical power.
  6. The chanting of a magic word or verse; incantation.
  7. Physics A quantum property of the charm quark whose conservation explains the absence of certain strange-particle decay modes and that accounts for the longevity of the J particle.
verb charmed, charm·ing, charms
verb, transitive
  1. To attract or delight greatly: the simple elegance of the meal charmed the guests.
  2. To induce by using strong personal attractiveness: charmed the guard into admitting them without invitations.
  3. To cast or seem to cast a spell on; bewitch.
verb, intransitive
  1. To be alluring or pleasing.
  2. To function as an amulet or charm.
  3. To use magic spells.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English charme, magic spell

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin carmen, incantation; see kan- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • charmˈing·ly adverb
  • charmˈless adjective

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charm

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