Basic Details
Word: Chime
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A clear ringing sound made by a bell or a set of bells. As a verb, to chime is to ring with that sound, as a clock does on the hour.
Synonyms: ring, peal, tinkle
How to Spell Chime
Syllables: chime
Tricky part: The long i comes from the silent e at the end, the same pattern as time and lime. Students who hear the long vowel sometimes double the m or put the e before it: chimme, chiem.
Watch out for: chimme, chiem, chyem
Memory tip: Chime is time with the t swapped for ch, and a clock chimes to tell the time.
Idioms and Phrases
- chime in: To join a conversation suddenly with your own remark. Example: "Whenever we talk about cricket, my little sister chimes in with her own opinions."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The temple bells began to chime as the evening aarti started.
Example 2: A wind chime made of bamboo hangs on our balcony.
Example 3: The old clock in the school hall chimes every hour.
Fun Fact
Big Ben is really the name of the great bell inside the clock tower at the Houses of Parliament in London; the tower itself was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012.
Practise the CREST Way
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The bells in the old church tower began to mihce at exactly six o'clock.
a) mince
b) mice
c) chime
d) chimp
Show answer
c) chime. Count the letters: five of them, with c, h, i, m and e, and only chime uses all five.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word chime as used in the sentence:
We heard the clock chime twelve just as the last guest left.
a) hush
b) tick
c) rattle
d) ring
Show answer
d) ring. To chime is to ring out clearly, the way a bell does.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. melody 2. rhythm 3. chimme 4. symphony
a) a tune, or a pleasant series of musical notes
b) a clear ringing sound made by a bell
c) a regular repeated pattern of beats or sounds
d) a long piece of music for a full orchestra
Show answer
b) a clear ringing sound made by a bell. Chime follows the pattern of time and lime: one m, then a silent e.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these would you expect to chime?
a) a towel
b) a pillow
c) a doorbell
d) a carpet
Show answer
c) a doorbell
2. Wind chimes make their sound when ____.
a) the breeze moves them
b) they are plugged in
c) they are heated
d) water fills them
Show answer
a) the breeze moves them
