Charm definition

chärm
charmed charms
See word origin
Frequency:
To function as an amulet or charm.
verb
16
7
To be alluring or pleasing.
verb
11
4
To protect from harm as though by magic.
verb
10
3
To act on as though by magic; seemingly cast a spell on.
verb
10
4
To attract or please greatly; enchant; allure; fascinate; delight.
verb
9
4
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To cast or seem to cast a spell on; bewitch.
verb
4
0
To use magic spells.
verb
3
0
Any trinket worn as a decoration on a bracelet, necklace, watch chain, etc.
noun
2
1
To practice magic.
verb
2
1
The definition of charm is something thought to have magic power, piece of jewelry or a person or thing that attracts others.

An example of a charm is a rabbit's foot keychain.

An example of a charm is a small silver butterfly pendant worn with other pendants on a bracelet.

An example of a charm is someone with a beautiful and welcoming smile.

noun
1
0
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A small ornament, such as one worn on a bracelet.
noun
1
0
The power or quality of pleasing or delighting; appeal.

An old house with a lot of charm.

noun
1
0
A quality that pleases or attracts; a delightful characteristic.

A mischievous grin was among the child's many charms.

noun
1
0
An action or formula thought to have magical power.
noun
1
0
The quantum number that represents the charm property, equal to the difference between the number of charm quarks and the number of charm antiquarks.
noun
1
0
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To delight or fascinate.

The simple elegance of the meal charmed the guests.

verb
1
0
Any object assumed to have such power, as an amulet or talisman.
noun
1
0
Any action or gesture assumed to have magic power.
noun
1
0
A quality or feature in someone or something that attracts or delights people.
noun
1
0
(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 (charmed particle) and 0 used of one that does not.
noun
1
0
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A chanted word, phrase, or verse assumed to have magic power to help or hurt; incantation.
noun
1
0
The chanting of such a word, phrase, or verse.
noun
1
0
One of the flavors of quarks, contributing to the charm number—a quantum number—for hadrons.
1
0
A charmed particle is a particle that contains at least one charmed quark or charmed antiquark. The charmed quark was hypothesized to account for the longevity of the J/psi particle and to explain differences in the behavior of leptons and hadrons.
1
0
An object, act or words believed to have magic power.

A charm against evil.

It works like a charm.

noun
1
0
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The ability to persuade, delight or arouse admiration; often constructed in the plural.

He had great personal charm.

She tried to win him over with her charms.

noun
1
0
(physics) A quantum number of hadrons determined by the quantity of charm quarks & antiquarks.
noun
1
0
A small trinket on a bracelet or chain, etc., traditionally supposed to confer luck upon the wearer.

She wears a charm bracelet on her wrist.

noun
1
0
​To seduce, persuade or fascinate someone or something.
  • John Milton.
    They, on their mirth and dance / Intent, with jocund music charm his ear.
  • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 4, The Celebrity.
    The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on an afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.

He charmed her with his dashing tales of his days as a sailor.

verb
1
0
To use a magical charm upon; to subdue, control, or summon by incantation or supernatural influence.

After winning three games while wearing the chain, Dan began to think it had been charmed.

verb
1
0
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To protect with, or make invulnerable by, spells, charms, or supernatural influences.

She led a charmed life.

verb
1
0
To subdue or overcome by some secret power, or by that which gives pleasure; to allay; to soothe.
verb
1
0
The mixed sound of many voices, especially of birds or children.
noun
1
0
A flock, group (especially of finches).
noun
1
0
To be charming; please greatly.
verb
2
2
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An item worn for its supposed magical benefit, as in warding off evil; an amulet.
noun
1
1
A quantum property of subatomic particles that is conserved in electromagnetic and strong interactions but may not be conserved in weak interactions that cause the decay of particles containing charm quarks.
noun
1
1
To induce by means of strong personal attractiveness.

Charmed the guard into admitting them without invitations.

verb
1
1

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
charm
Plural:
charms

Origin of charm

  • Middle English charme magic spell from Old French from Latin carmen incantation kan- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Variant of chirm, from Middle English chirme, from Old English ċierm (“cry, alarm”), from Proto-Germanic *karmiz.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Old French charme (chant, magic spell), from Latin carmen (song, incantation)

    From Wiktionary

Charm Sentence Examples

  • Her father's wealth had come from his whore-daughter's ability to charm any man she chose.

  • The Fred O'Connor charm extended beyond the blue haired set to children as well.

  • Her greatest charm was, however, her pleasant behaviour; for she was "merry in company, ready and quick of answer."

  • Maybe that's part of her charm.

  • All my charm and diplomacy is hitting a brick wall.

More sentences

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Also Mentioned In

Words near charm in the Dictionary