hymn /hɪm/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 800-900 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: hymnus 'song of praise' , from Greek hymnos ]
1 . a song of praise to God:
He liked to sing hymns as he worked.
2 . a hymn to something a book, film, song etc that strongly praises a person or idea:
Their first single was a hymn to selfishness called ‘Looking After Number One’.
3 . be singing from the same hymn book/sheet British English used to say that two or more people understand each other and are thinking about something in the same way
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THESAURUS
■ types of song
▪ national anthem the official song of a country, which is sung or played on public occasions:
Before the match, everyone stood up to sing the national anthem.
▪ hymn /hɪm/ a religious song that is sung in a church:
What hymns did you choose for your wedding?
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At funerals people often sing the hymn ‘Abide with Me’.
▪ carol a traditional Christmas song:
We went around the houses, singing carols.
▪ folk song a traditional song from a particular area:
an old Mexican folk song
▪ ballad a long folk song which tells a story:
a traditional ballad about a man who is dreaming of his home in Ireland
▪ lullaby a slow quiet song sung to children to make them go to sleep:
She sat by the child’s bed, softly singing a lullaby.