Word
Definition
n. the clear, ringing sound that a bell makes. It can also be a set of bells or a musical instrument that makes these sounds.
n. a clear, resonant sound produced by a bell or a set of tuned metal tubes. Often refers to the melodic sequence played by a clock to mark the hour.
Examples
“The soft chime of the clock woke me up.”
“The wind caught the metal tubes on the porch, creating a gentle chime that echoed through the garden.”
“As the cathedral bells began their midday chime, the vibrations were felt as much as heard by the tourists gathered in the square below.”
Examples
simple
“The soft chime of the clock woke me up.”
contextual
“The wind caught the metal tubes on the porch, creating a gentle chime that echoed through the garden.”
complex
“As the cathedral bells began their midday chime, the vibrations were felt as much as heard by the tourists gathered in the square below.”
Usage
Often used in the plural ('chimes') when referring to a musical instrument or a set of bells.
Real-World Examples
“An ice cream man has been hit with a noise complaint by someone who did not like the loud chimes from his van.” “When I look at my coffee as the bells chime in Cambridge, there is a lot I can say.” Etymology
From Middle English chime, chim, chimbe, chymbe, a shortening of chimbelle (misinterpreted as chymme-belle, chimbe-belle), from Old English ċimbala, ċimbal (“cymbal”), from Latin cymbalum.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. chime in
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/chime
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0