CHARM


Meaning of CHARM in English

I. ˈchärm, -ȧm noun

( -s )

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English charme, from Old French, from Latin carmen song, incantation, from canere to sing — more at chant

1.

a. : the chanting or reciting of a verse supposed to have magic or occult power : incantation

b. : an action, process, or thing (as a word, phrase, or verse) believed to have such power : a magic spell

2. : something worn about the person to ward off evil or ensure good fortune : amulet

3.

a. : a trait that fascinates, allures, or delights : a combination of entirely attractive and delightful traits

a new and even greater charm — the fascination of the unknown and mysterious — W.H.Hudson †1922

one of the great charms of Lawrence … was that he could never be bored — Aldous Huxley

b. : an alluring physical attribute — used in plural

a dancer revealing her charms

c. : compelling attractiveness and appeal dispelling any possible reserved or antagonistic feeling

Alan, whose educated charm had enabled him to marry an heiress — John Galsworthy

an island of great charm , with its pleasing Mediterranean climate, its forest-clad mountains, its vineyards — Charles Woolley

4. : a small ornament worn usually on a bracelet or chain ; especially : a metal miniature replica so worn

a charm bracelet

- like a charm

II. verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Middle English charmen, from Old French charmer, from Late Latin carminare to enchant, sing, make verses, from Latin carmin-, carmen song, incantation

transitive verb

1. : to influence or control by or as if by charms:

a. : to subdue, dominate, change, or hold under a spell by magic power or power like magic in its supposed effectiveness

b. : to summon or sway by an attraction magical or otherwise compelling

only his daughter had the power of charming this black brooding from his mind — Charles Dickens

c. : to please, soothe, or delight by compelling attraction

what had charmed her in it would still charm her, even though … against her will — Edith Wharton

d. : to check, assuage, or calm as if by magic

charm his rage with soft answers

charm his grief

2. : to endow with supernatural powers by means of charms ; especially : to protect by spells, charms, or supernatural influences

Milo brought an action against him for violence, but Clodius was charmed even against forms of law — J.A.Froude

3. obsolete : to conjure or exhort (a person) typically with a special appeal

charm a woman, by her husband's love, to speak

4. : to summon, guide, control, or inveigle (an animal) typically by charms, music, or blandishment

an early Norwich Pied Piper used a violin to charm rattlesnakes — American Guide Series: Connecticut

you can still charm a bird off a tree — Philip Barry

intransitive verb

1. : to use enchantments and spells : practice magic and enchantment

no fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm — Shakespeare

2. : to have the effect of a charm : please , delight , fascinate

a philosophy that charms by its completeness — H.O.Taylor

Synonyms: see attract

III. noun

( -s )

Etymology: probably by folk etymology from chirm (I)

1. now dialect England : a blended or confused noise (as of voices or bird songs) : chirm

2. of finches : flock

IV. transitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

obsolete : to make music upon : play , tune

V. noun

: a quantum characteristic of subatomic particles that accounts for the unexpectedly long lifetime of the J/psi particle, explains various difficulties in the theory of the weak force, is conserved in interactions involving electromagnetism or the strong force, and has a value of zero for most known particles

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.