chiming
UK[ˈtʃaɪmɪŋ]US[ˈtʃaɪmɪŋ]
v
(present participle) Making a clear ringing sound, typically like that of a bell or clock.
v
(present participle) Being in agreement or harmony with something.
Etymology
The verb 'chime' originates from the Middle English 'chimbe', a shortened form of 'chymbe bellen', meaning 'to ring chime bells'. This, in turn, derives from the Old English 'cimbal', referring to a cymbal, which was borrowed from Latin 'cymbalum' and ultimately from Greek 'kumbalon', meaning a bowl or a cymbal. The core concept is the resonant, metallic sound produced by such instruments. The figurative sense of 'being in agreement' emerged in the 16th century, metaphorically extending from the harmonious sound of bells ringing together. Thus, 'chiming' carries the dual legacy of its literal acoustic origin and its later abstract meaning of concord.
Analysis
The word 'chiming' is the present participle or gerund form of the verb 'chime'. It is not productively segmented into smaller, meaningful morphemes in modern English. The core element 'chime' is a simplex word.
Examples
The church bells were chiming to mark the hour.
Her views on the matter are chiming with the latest scientific findings.
We could hear the wind chimes gently chiming on the porch.