chime
UK[tʃaɪm]US[tʃaɪm]
n
A ringing sound made by a bell, or by a set of bells or a metal tube.
n
A set of bells or metal tubes that produce musical notes when struck.
v
To make a ringing sound like a bell.
v
To be in agreement or harmony with something.
Etymology
The journey of 'chime' begins with the Greek 'kumbalon', denoting a hollow, cup-like percussion instrument. This term passed into Latin as 'cymbalum', referring specifically to a cymbal. In Old English, it evolved into 'cimbal' or 'cimbala', still for a cymbal. By the 14th century, the form 'chime' emerged, shifting its primary reference from the instrument itself to the characteristic melodious, ringing sound produced by bells or tuned metal bars, a semantic narrowing that captured a specific auditory quality. This acoustic focus later enabled the figurative verb sense of harmonizing or agreeing, as if different voices were sounding together in tune.
Analysis
The word 'chime' is a simplex form. It originates from the Old English 'cimbal' (a cymbal), which came from Latin 'cymbalum' and ultimately Greek 'kumbalon' (a hollow vessel, cymbal). Its functional role is as a complete lexical unit.
Examples
The church bells began to chime at noon.
The doorbell gave a cheerful chime.
His views on education chime perfectly with the new government policy.