chime

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈchīm 

: the edge or rim of a cask or drum

chime

2 of 3

verb

chimed; chiming

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a musical and especially a harmonious sound

b

: to make the sounds of a chime

2

: to be or act in accord

transitive verb

1

: to cause to sound musically by striking

2

: to produce by chiming

3

: to call or indicate by chiming

the clock chimed midnight

4

: to utter repetitively : din sense 2

chimer noun

chime

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: an apparatus for chiming a bell or set of bells

2

a

: a musically tuned set of bells

b

: one of a set of objects giving a bell-like sound when struck

3

a

: the sound of a set of bells

—usually used in plural

b

: a musical sound suggesting that of bells

4

: accord, harmony

such happy chime of fact and theory

—Henry Maudsley

Synonyms

Verb

• agree
• assort
• blend
• chime in
• conform
• consort
• coordinate
• groove
• harmonize

Noun (2)

• jingle
• tinkle
• tintinnabulation

Examples of chime in a Sentence

Verb

The music and the mood chimed well together.

the restaurant's manor-house decor chimes perfectly with the chef's traditionalist take on haute cuisine

Noun (2)

the welcoming chimes on our doorbell

firmly believes that science and religion can keep chime with one another

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This said, Hatcher has also layered in quite a few Easter Eggs throughout the play to gong Big Ben-worthy memory chimes for anyone who ever cozied down at 221B Baker Street with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s indelible short stories and novels. —Christopher Smith, Orange County Register, 5 June 2024

Participants can choose to rest comfortably or gently move through simple stretches while listening to singing bowls, chimes, drums and gongs. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2024

Verb

The company is recalling more than 125,000 Models S, X, 3, and Y because their seat belt warnings aren’t lighting up and chiming like they’re supposed to, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. —Laura Bratton, Quartz, 31 May 2024

The poster chimes nicely with what is becoming a bit of a Japanese theme at this year’s Cannes festival. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English chimbe, from Old English cimb-; akin to Middle Dutch kimme edge of a cask

Noun (2)

Middle English, cymbal, probably from Anglo-French *chimbe, cime, from Latin cymbalum cymbal

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chime

• chime in
• chime in with
• wind chime

Kids Definition

chime

1 of 2 noun

ˈchīm 

1

: a set of bells tuned to play music

2

: the sound of a set of bells

—usually used in plural

chime

2 of 2 verb

chimed; chiming

1

: to make the sounds of a chime

2

: to call or indicate by chiming