Definition

1. Noun:

   • A percussion instrument consisting of tuned bells: A "chime" is a musical instrument made of a set of bells, typically cylindrical and tuned to produce harmonious notes when struck.
   • A melodious ringing sound: The word "chime" also refers to the clear, resonant sound produced by such bells or similar objects.

2. Verb:

   • To make a melodious ringing sound: When bells or similar objects "chime," they produce a clear, ringing, often musical sound.
   • To indicate the time by striking: A clock "chimes" when it sounds bells to mark the hour or quarter-hour.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The tower's chime could be heard across the village.
  • The musician played a beautiful melody on the wind chime.

• Verb:

  • The church bells chime every Sunday morning.
  • The grandfather clock chimed midnight.

Advanced Usage

• "to chime in": to join a conversation by saying something, often abruptly or in agreement.
  • He always chimes in with his opinion, even when no one asks.
• "to chime with something": to be in agreement or harmony with something; to correspond fittingly.
  • Her optimistic outlook chimed perfectly with the team's new spirit.

Variants and Related Words

• Wind chime (n): A decorative arrangement of suspended objects that produce sound when moved by the wind.
• Chiming (adj/n): Describing or related to the act or sound of chiming.

Synonyms

• Noun (sound): Peal, ring, toll, ding-dong.
• Verb (to ring): Toll, peal, ring, sound.
• Verb (to agree): Harmonize, correspond, accord, concur.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Chime in: To interject a comment into a conversation.
  • Please don't chime in while I'm speaking.
• Chime in with: To express agreement or harmony with an idea or statement.
  • Several members chimed in with their support for the proposal.

Related Idioms

• Chime of bells: Refers to the collective sound of bells ringing together.
  • The chime of bells announced the start of the ceremony.
• To keep chiming on (about something): To talk repeatedly or persistently about something (often used negatively).
  • He keeps chiming on about the same old problem.

Noun

1. a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned bells that are struck with a hammer; used as an orchestral instrument

Verb

1. emit a sound
   • bells and gongs chimed