chime¹ Definition
chime (c̸hīm)
noun
- a contrivance for striking a bell or set of bells
- a set of bells tuned to a musical scale
- a similar set of metal tubes, hung vertically and struck with a hammer
- a single bell rung by a hammer, as in a clock
- the musical sounds or harmony produced by or as by chimes
- harmony; agreement
Etymology: ME chimbe, cimble < OFr < L cymbalum, cymbal
intransitive verb chimed, chim′·ing
- to ring out when struck; sound as a chime
- to sound in harmony, as bells
- to harmonize; agree
transitive verb
- to ring, play, or strike (a bell, set of bells, etc.)
- to make (music or sound) on chimes
- to give (the time) by striking bells
- to call, summon, etc. by sounding a chime
chime¹ Related Forms
chime¹ Idioms
chime in
- to join in or interrupt a conversation
- to agree
chime² Definition
chime (c̸hīm)
noun
the extended rim at each end of a cask or barrel
Etymology: ME chimb < OE cimb- (only in compounds); akin to Du kim, Ger kimme, an edge & ? comb
chime Synonyms
chime Usage Examples
Object
- clock: The next time, Charlie went to see the chiming clock in the hall.
- bell: Ringing and chiming bells are plotted as two separate lines in each case for clarity.
- guitar: Repeated listens unearth depth to this record with the soft chiming guitar claiming an important role in the sound.
- midnight: However, all was silent save for the chimes striking midnight in the city.
- chord: And then words did ring forth from her, from him, chiming together perfect chords.
- hour: You probably get the message: the bell in the church chimed every hour on the hour all night!
Converse of object
hear: By this time, you've probably heard the doorbell chime, which means the mail's in.
Preposition: on
side: Once the second starts to chime on both sides sufficient space must be left for it.
Modifies a noun
- whistle: Whilst on the LMR the chime whistle was also replaced by twin air horns.
- bar: In Music we listened to high and low sounds and played them on chime bars.
Modifying Another Word
- perfectly: Mozartâs stock now could hardly stand higher: his emotional ambiguity seems to chime perfectly with our times.
- certainly: This certainly chimes with the message that the British government would like the European Union to heed.
- well: A fine choice for a wide variety of musical tastes, which seems to chime well with a variety of partnering equipment too.
Noun used with modifier
- bell: The original is a repeated ground bass built on a simple bell chime, with running variations in the solo part.
- wind: Also, wind chimes are a must for the garden.
- clock: Roberta woke to hear the little traveling clock chime two.
- door: Portable door chimes Keep the door chime near you to hear the doorbell.
Preposition: in
th: The UK Presidency ended as the clocks chimed in th... Their good work is ignored by the media - yet they...
Preposition: of
Browse dictionary entries near chime
- ‹ Chimbote
- ‹ Chimborazo
- ‹ chimb
- ‹ chimar
- ‹ chimaera
- ‹ Chilung
- ‹ Chiltern hundreds
- ‹ Chilpancingo
- ‹ chilopod
- ‹ chilo-
- chimera ›
- chimere ›
- chimerical ›
- chimerism ›
- chimichanga ›
- Chimkent ›
- chimney ›
- chimney corner ›
- chimney piece ›
- chimney pot ›

