charm en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- chärm (General-American)
- /tʃɑːm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /t͡ʃɑɹm/ (General-American)
- chäm (Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English charme, from Old French charme (“chant, magic spell”), from Latin carmen (“song, incantation”). Displaced native Old English lybb (“drug, poison, charm”).
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) An object, act or words believed to have magic power (usually carries a positive connotation).
The witch, repository of hieratic lore and folk legends and occult arcana, became the distributor of philtres and unguents, electuaries and pastilles, herbs and charms and incantations - directed toward sexual pleasures and amatory satisfactions.
1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 223:It works like a charm.
a charm against evil
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(countable, in-plural, often, uncountable) The ability to persuade, delight or arouse admiration.
Muſick has Charms to ſooth a ſavage Breaſt, To ſoften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.
1697, [William] Congreve, The Mourning Bride, a Tragedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 1:Charms ſtrike the ſight, but merit wins the ſoul.
1714, Alexander Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC, canto V, page 160:Her coyneſs was conquered by aſſiduity, and at laſt ſhe conſented to reſign the treaſure of her charms to my paſſion.
1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 15:[…]the charm of Beauties powerful glance.
1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:She tried to win him over with her charms.
He had great personal charm.
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(countable, uncountable) A small trinket on a bracelet or chain, etc., traditionally supposed to confer luck upon the wearer.
She wears a charm bracelet on her wrist.
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(collective, countable, uncountable) A group of goldfinches or other songbirds, or sometimes hummingbirds.
I observed a charm of chaffinches get up at my approach and they seemed to be all females
1961 July 14, The Manchester Guardian Weekly, volume 61, page 15:24th. - Two Green Sandpipers, fifty Mute Swans, and five Herons at Hedgecourt Pond; a small "charm" of Goldfinches near Lingfield (C. H. B.).
1906, L. B. Mouritz, “Ornithological Observations in Surrey”, in Zoologist: A Monthly Journal of Natural History, Newman West, page 102:It's a charm of hummingbirds, a rare sight.
2020, Janine Urbaniak Reid, The Opposite of Certainty: Fear, Faith, and Life in Between, Thomas Nelson, page 263:There is the silvertoned twitter of a "charm" of Goldfinches at the thistle-heads, and, above all, there is the cheerful uproar of the Rooks once more.
1924, John Henry Salter, Bird Life Throughout the Year, Swarthmore Press, page 182:the "charm" of yellow goldfinches flying against the unearthly blue of the sky!
1929 August, Esther Forbes, “Ann Douglas Sedgwick and Her Novels”, in The Bookman, volume 69, Dodd Mead and Company, page 574:Therefore, do not fear, but trust in your Father's unfailing care, for you are more precious than a charm of sparrows.
2015, Wayne L. Ney, The Story of the Messiah: A Historical Account of the Life of Jesus Christ, WestBow Press, page 168:They looked up to see, sitting a tight knot attempting to conceal themselves on a branch thick with leaves and blossoms, the charm of purple finches.
2017, Peggy A. Wheeler, The Splendid and Extraordinary Life of Beautimus Potamus, Dragon Moon Press:When it was desired to attract a 'charm' of goldfinches or other birds, the string was pulled, and the braced bird was thus thrown up into the air, and on the flock settling the nets were pulled over, the captured birds transferred to a cage, in the top of which was a hole large enough to admit of a hand being inserted, the leg of a stocking being nailed round the hole and tied in a knot to prevent the birds escaping.
1896, Arthur Thomas Fisher, Outdoor Life in England, R. Bentley & Son, page 99:Nearby, a charm of nightingales flooded the daylit branches of a wood.
2014, Laurie Lee, I Can't Stay Long, Open Road Media:
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(countable, particle, uncountable) A quantum number of hadrons determined by the number of charm quarks and antiquarks.
In trying to understand the long life of the psi particle, physicists postulated the notion of “charm.” Charm, they say, prevents the “easy” decay of particles and thus prolongs their lifetimes. U particles, Dr. Pert said, may carry the property of charm.
1975 July 31, Sandra Blakeslee, “Another Particle Believed Discovered”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:Mesons which combine the charmed quark with the up or down antiquarks are denoted the D mesons. These mesons carry explicit charm (i.e. have a non-zero charm quantum number), just as the K mesons carry strangeness.
2020, James E. Dodd, Ben Gripaios, The Ideas of Particle Physics, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 173:
- (countable, uncountable) A second-order measure of derivative price sensitivity, expressed as the instantaneous rate of change of delta with respect to time.
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(countable, qualifier:Microsoft Windows, uncountable) An icon providing quick access to a command or setting.
Undoubtedly one of the most important pieces to navigating Windows 8, charms are actually not visible until a command to show them is given.
2012, J. Peter Bruzzese, Using Windows 8:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| charms | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| charme | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Coordinates
Descendants
Hypernyms
Synonyms
token · incantation · enchantment · pishogue · mojo · token · madstone · periapt · spell · flock · attraction · telesm · magic spell · craft · chantment · telesm · ornament · delta decay · protection · lucky charm · conjuration · spell · wanga · mojo · fetish · amulet · amulet · dwimmer · talisman · charm · craft · appeal · DdeltaDtime · phylactery · mascot · charisma · protection · amulet · wanga · charm · hex · charm · dangle · mojo · madstone · spellword · incantation · fetish · obeah · periapt · magic · mascot · lucky charm · talisman · cantrip · wanga · juju · makutu · juju · rune · talisman · craft · phylactery
Translations (178)
ro șarm (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · it amuleto (something with magic power) · pl urok (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · it ciondolo (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · ro farmec (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · he חן (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · pt amuleto (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · ru обая́ние (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · gd seudag (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · la venustas (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · hu varázslat (something with magic power) · da charm (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · tyz búa (something with magic power) · gd geas (something with magic power) · grc βασκάνιον (something with magic power) · el γοητεία (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · fi lumo (property of subatomic particle) · mk шарм (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · mi hahau (something with magic power) · it incantesimo (something with magic power) · gd geasachd (something with magic power) · hu amulett (something with magic power) · cy swyn (something with magic power) · sv talisman (something with magic power) · nl ban (something with magic power) · fi tenho (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · pt charme (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · el ψευτοστολίδι (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · sa करण (something with magic power) · gl encanto (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · ru обере́г (something with magic power) · fi amuletti (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · fi taikakalu (something with magic power) · eo breloko (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · ga briocht (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · klj afsûn (something with magic power) · gd seuntas (something with magic power) · ga caithis (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · ro amuletă (something with magic power) · it fascino (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · ota حمایل (something with magic power) · de Zauber (something with magic power) · kk сүйкімділік (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · ur جادو (something with magic power) · it malia (something with magic power) · sa करण (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · mk шарм (property of subatomic particle) · hi अदा (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · bg талисман (something with magic power) · hy թովչանք (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · fa افسون (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · te లావణ్యము (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · ru брело́к (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · tyz bùa (something with magic power) · hi टोना (something with magic power) · es encanto (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · ru очарова́ние (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · grc ἴϋγξ (something with magic power) · nl charme (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · fi lumo (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · ja チャーム (property of subatomic particle) · sv amulett (something with magic power) · ro talisman (something with magic power) · ca encant (property of subatomic particle) · fr breloque (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · nl bedeltje (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · he קסם (something with magic power) · hy բրելոկ (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · fr fétiche (something with magic power) · shn ၶြႃႇ (something with magic power) · gd ubag (something with magic power) · fi lumous (something with magic power) · yo oògùn (something with magic power) · gl dómina (something with magic power) · grc περίαπτον (something with magic power) · sv berlock (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · it attrattiva (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · it amuleto (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · tl alindog (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · cs půvab (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · hu amulett (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · ga draíocht (something with magic power) · ro breloc (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · da charme (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · uk чарі́вність (property of subatomic particle) · sa लक्ष्मी (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · fi hurmaavuus (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · hy թովք (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · uk чарі́вність (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · bg обаяние (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · grc μάγγανον (something with magic power) · ru талисма́н (something with magic power) · ca encís (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · fi viehätysvoima (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · es dije (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · bg чар (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · ja シャルム (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · de Charm (property of subatomic particle) · gd giseag (something with magic power) · pt encanto (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · sco chairm (something with magic power) · fi taika (something with magic power) · de Amulett (something with magic power) · hu kabala (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · nl betovering (something with magic power) · es encanto (property of subatomic particle) · cmn 魅力 (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · cmn 護身符 /护身符 (something with magic power) · hu talizmán (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · ca amulet (something with magic power) · ja お守り (something with magic power) · sa लावण्य (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · hu sárm (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · hy կախազարդ (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · ja チャーム (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · fr charme (something with magic power) · cy swyn (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · mi ātahu (something with magic power) · bg амулет (something with magic power) · mi taupatiti (something with magic power) · gl fetiche (something with magic power) · pt feitiço (something with magic power) · la carmen (something with magic power) · el φυλαχτό (something with magic power) · mk талисма́н (something with magic power) · de Zauberarmband (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · ur منتر (something with magic power) · de Charme (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · tl anting-anting (something with magic power) · sa योग (something with magic power) · hy հմայք (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · ru ча́ры (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · he קֶסֶם אִישִׁי (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · mk при́влечност (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · pt fetiche (something with magic power) · hy հրապույր (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · mk чар (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · hi मोह (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · fi amuletti (something with magic power) · mk си́нџирче (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · ru шарм (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · mi kaha (something with magic power) · mi hirihiri (something with magic power) · hu kellem (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · mi tapuwae (something with magic power) · ro grație (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · it incanto (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · la lepos (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · it talismano (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · gl dixe (something with magic power) · mi turipū (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · nup cigbè (something with magic power) · hi जादू (something with magic power) · es encanto (something with magic power) · gd orra (something with magic power) · pl urok (something with magic power) · pl talizman (a small trinket on a bracelet or chain) · xal мирд (something with magic power) · eo amuleto (something with magic power) · ur ٹونا (something with magic power) · gd seun (something with magic power) · ru амуле́т (something with magic power) · gl bolerca (something with magic power) · cmn 魔力 (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · sa योग (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · fr charme (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · ur ادا (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · eo ĉarmeco (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · ja 魅力 (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · hu báj (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · nl bezwering (something with magic power) · ca encant (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · mk ама́јлија (something with magic power) · bn জাদু (something with magic power) · ur ادا (something with magic power) · ru очарова́ние (property of subatomic particle) · sv charm (quality of inspiring delight or admiration) · pl zaklęcie (something with magic power)