chime

Definition

A musical instrument producing a sound when struck, similar to a bell (e.g. a tubular metal bar) or actually a bell. Often used in the plural to refer to the set: the chimes.

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.

Example Sentences

• "Hugo had a recording of someone playing the chimes against a background of surf noise that she found calming."
• "Sylvia was a chime player in the school orchestra."
• "Peter removed the C♯ chime from its mounting so that he could get at the dust that had accumulated underneath."