noun

chime

chym

Chime (noun) means a bell-like instrument, or set of them, that rings out a musical note. Example: “The wind chimes tinkled softly on the porch.”

noun

A bell-like instrument, or set of them, that rings out a musical note.

"The wind chimes tinkled softly on the porch."

"The clock tower's chimes could be heard across town."

verb

To make a ringing sound, like a bell.

"The doorbell chimed just as they sat down to eat."

To agree or fit together (often "chime in" for joining a conversation).

"Her opinion chimed with what the others had said."

How to use chime

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA ringing bell sound, or the act of ringing like one — also used for jumping into a conversation ("chime in").

Common pairings

chime in wind chimes the clock chimed

Word forms

chimed past tense, chimes plural, chimes singular

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The wind _____ tinkled softly on the porch.

Etymology

From Middle English chymbe, likely traced back to Latin cymbalum, "cymbal".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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alarm bell buzz buzzer carillon clapper curfew dinger ding-dong glockenspiel gong peal

Related words

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Rhymes for chime

time dime mime lime crime anime grime prime slime regime runtime pastime

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Frequently asked questions

What does “chime” mean?

The word “chime” means a bell-like instrument, or set of them, that rings out a musical note. In plain terms, a ringing bell sound, or the act of ringing like one — also used for jumping into a conversation ("chime in").

How do you pronounce “chime”?

“Chime” is pronounced chym (/tʃaɪm/ in IPA).

How do you use “chime” in a sentence?

Here is “chime” used in a sentence: “The wind chimes tinkled softly on the porch.”

What is another word for “chime”?

Words with a similar meaning to “chime” include alarm, bell, buzz, buzzer, carillon and clapper.

What part of speech is “chime”?

Depending on how it is used, “chime” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “chime” come from?

The word “chime” comes from Latin. From Middle English chymbe, likely traced back to Latin cymbalum, "cymbal".

How many meanings does “chime” have?

“Chime” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a bell-like instrument, or set of them, that rings out a musical note.

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