Part 209

Chime (chīm), n. [See Chimb.] See Chine, n., 3.

Chime (chīm), n. [OE. chimbe, prop., cymbal, OF. cymbe, cymble, in a dialectic form, chymble, F. cymbale, L. cymbalum, fr. Gr. ky`mbalon. See Cymbal.] 1. The harmonious sound of bells, or of musical instruments.

Instruments that made melodius chime. Milton.

2. A set of bells musically tuned to each other; specif., in the pl., the music performed on such a set of bells by hand, or produced by mechanism to accompany the striking of the hours or their divisions.

We have heard the chimes at midnight. Shak.

3. Pleasing correspondence of proportion, relation, or sound. "Chimes of verse." Cowley.

Chime, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chimed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Chiming.] [See Chime, n.] 1. To sound in harmonious accord, as bells.

2. To be in harmony; to agree; to suit; to harmonize; to correspond; to fall in with.

Everything chimed in with such a humor. W. irving.

3. To join in a conversation; to express assent; -- followed by in or in with. [Colloq.]

4. To make a rude correspondence of sounds; to jingle, as in rhyming. Cowley

Chime (?), v. i. 1. To cause to sound in harmony; to play a tune, as upon a set of bells; to move or strike in harmony.

And chime their sounding hammers. Dryden.

2. To utter harmoniously; to recite rhythmically.

Chime his childish verse. Byron.

Chim"er (?), n. One who chimes.

Chime"ra (?), n.; pl. Chimeras (#). [L. chimaera a chimera (in sense 1), Gr. &?; a she-goat, a chimera, fr. &?; he-goat; cf. Icel. qymbr a yearling ewe.] 1. (Myth.) A monster represented as vomiting flames, and as having the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a dragon. "Dire chimeras and enchanted isles." Milton.

2. A vain, foolish, or incongruous fancy, or creature of the imagination; as, the chimera of an author. Burke.

Chi*mere" (?), n. [OF. chamarre., F. simarre (cf. It. zimarra), fr. Sp. chamarra, zamarra, a coat made of sheepskins, a sheepskin, perh. from Ar. sammūr the Scythian weasel or marten, the sable. Cf. Simarre.] The upper robe worn by a bishop, to which lawn sleeves are usually attached. Hook.

Chi*mer"ic (?), a. Chimerical.

Chi*mer"ic*al (?), a. Merely imaginary; fanciful; fantastic; wildly or vainly conceived; having, or capable of having, no existence except in thought; as, chimerical projects.

Syn. -- Imaginary; fanciful; fantastic; wild; unfounded; vain; deceitful; delusive.

Chi*mer"ic*al*ly, adv. Wildy; vainly; fancifully.

Chim"i*nage (?), n. [OF. cheminage, fr. chemin way, road.] (Old Law) A toll for passage through a forest. [Obs.] Cowell.

Chim"ney, n.; pl. Chimneys (#). [F. cheminÚe, LL. caminata, fr. L. caminus furnace, fireplace, Gr. &?; furnace, oven.] 1. A fireplace or hearth. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

2. That part of a building which contains the smoke flues; esp. an upright tube or flue of brick or stone, in most cases extending through or above the roof of the building. Often used instead of chimney shaft.

Hard by a cottage chimney smokes. Milton.

3. A tube usually of glass, placed around a flame, as of a lamp, to create a draft, and promote combustion.