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chime

chime

5 4.4
A set of tuned metal bells that you hit with a hammer to make musical notes
  • noun
  • /tʃaɪm/
: campanas tubulares
  • Marcia muted the chime by placing her palms over her ears.
  • handchimes

And so over the ox, she was playing like meditation music with a lot of chimes, but the chimes weren't in rhythm.

Examples

  • Before she could make the adjustment, however, a familiar three-toned chime sounded, and the picture went dead.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Tutor reached under his desk, and I heard a bell chime faintly.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The attempt on my life occurred at approximately two minutes after the chime of midnight.

  • Two hours after that, the ship's emergency chime awakened her.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The chimes were quickly called "chime time," and students alerted to the sound immediately.

    Academic text (2014)
  • The old woman let the echo of the fifth chime fade away before she rolled away from him.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • To one side, an Arcosanti wind chime with a weathered bronze pelican clanged faintly.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The chime of the church bells signaled the start of the wedding ceremony.

  • During the concert, the musician played a beautiful melody on the chime in perfect harmony with the orchestra.

  • The gentle chime of the wind bells created a soothing atmosphere in the garden.

Synonyms

bell
vschime
459 1.0

A hollow metal object that makes a ringing sound when struck

is a set of tuned ringing objects played for melodies
instrument
vschime
269 1.9

An object like a piano or violin that makes musical sounds

is a specific percussion device made of tuned metal pieces for orchestral use
gong
vschime
17 3.2

A metal instrument, often a large disc, that makes a loud ringing sound when struck

is arranged as multiple tuned ringing objects for playing melodies
timpani
vschime
3 7.9

Large round drums used in an orchestra that you can tune to different notes

is a set of tuned metal ringing objects producing higher pitched melodic notes
3 3.3

A thing you hit, shake, or scrape to make sound in music

is specifically a tuned set of ringing metal pieces used melodically
5.1

A set of metal bars on a frame played with small hammers to make clear, ringing sounds

is made of tuned hollow ringing objects arranged to sound as pitched notes

Compounds

13 2.8

A hanging decoration that makes soft sounds in the wind

How Many Bells

carillon
1 9.9
chime
5 4.4

Surface Forms

chime singular
chimes plural

Etymology

Chime comes from old words for metal musical instruments, like cymbal, and from the idea of metal pieces that 'ring' together. So a chime is a set of tuned bells you strike to make a musical sound.