n. & v.
--n.
1. a the power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration. b fascination, attractiveness. c (usu. in pl.) an attractive or enticing quality.
2 a trinket on a bracelet etc.
3 a an object, act, or word(s) supposedly having occult or magic power; a spell. b a thing worn to avert evil etc.; an amulet.
4 Physics a property of matter manifested by some elementary particles.
--v.tr.
1. delight, captivate (charmed by the performance).
2 influence or protect as if by magic (leads a charmed life).
3 a gain by charm (charmed agreement out of him). b influence by charm (charmed her into consenting).
4 cast a spell on, bewitch.
Phrases and idioms:
charm-bracelet a bracelet hung with small trinkets. like a charm perfectly, wonderfully.
Derivatives:
charmer n.
Etymology: ME f. OF charme, charmer f. L carmen song