an individual bell or the sound it makes when struck
2.
(often plural) the machinery employed to sound a bell in this way
3.
Also called: bell a percussion instrument consisting of a set of vertical metal tubes of graduated length, suspended in a frame and struck with a hammer
4.
a harmonious or ringing sound: the chimes of children's laughter
5.
agreement; concord
—vb (foll by with)
6.
a. to sound (a bell) or (of a bell) to be sounded by a clapper or hammer
b. to produce (music or sounds) by chiming
7.
(tr) to indicate or show (time or the hours) by chiming
8.
(tr) to summon, announce, or welcome by ringing bells
9.
to agree or harmonize
10.
to speak or recite in a musical or rhythmic manner
[C13: probably shortened from earlier chymbe bell, ultimately from Latin cymbalumcymbal]
c.1300, from L. cymbalum (see cymbal, which is what the word originally meant), perhaps through O.Fr. chimbe or directly from L. as O.E. cimbal, either one likely misinterpreted as chymbe bellen "chime bells."