/ tʃaɪm; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( of a bell or a clock ) to ring; to show the time by making a ringing sound :
[ v ]
I heard the clock chime.
Eight o'clock had already chimed.
[ vn ]
The clock chimed midday.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- chime in (with sth)
- chime (in) with sth
■ noun
a ringing sound, especially one that is made by a bell :
door chimes
—see also wind chimes
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the senses cymbal and ring out ): probably from Old English cimbal (from Latin cymbalum , from Greek kumbalon , from kumbē cup), later interpreted as chime bell .