To start (a hymn, etc.) for others to take up.

transitive. To begin to sing (a song, esp. a psalm or hymn); spec. (Scottish) to lead the singing of (a psalm) in church.

To read out (a metrical psalm, a hymn) line by line for the congregation to sing. Also to line out.

transitive. U.S. regional. To provide the key for singing (a hymn). rare.