Definition

Noun: A wind chime is a decorative object made of a set of small, suspended pieces (often of metal, glass, wood, bamboo, or pottery) that hang together loosely. When moved by the wind, these pieces strike each other or a central striker, producing a gentle, random tinkling or chiming sound.

Usage

Wind chimes are primarily used outdoors in gardens, on porches, or near windows to create soothing sounds from natural breezes. They serve both decorative and auditory purposes, often associated with relaxation, meditation, and adding a pleasant ambiance to a space.

Examples

• The gentle sound of the wind chime on the porch made the afternoon feel very peaceful.
• She bought a beautiful glass wind chime as a housewarming gift.
• We could hear the wind chime tinkling softly in the breeze from the backyard.

Advanced Usage

• As a metaphorical reference: The term can be used metaphorically to describe a light, random, or melodious series of sounds.
  • The falling raindrops on the tin roof created a sound like a natural wind chime.

Variants and Related Words

• Wind bell: A simpler, often single-bell variant that rings in the wind.
• Mobile: A decorative hanging structure with balanced parts that move, but typically designed for visual movement indoors rather than for creating sound from wind.

Synonyms

• Aeolian chime
• Wind bell

Related Phrases

• To chime in the wind: This phrase describes the action of a wind chime.
  • The bamboo chimes chimed softly in the wind.

Noun

1. a decorative arrangement of pieces of metal or glass or pottery that hang together loosely so the wind can cause them to tinkle