| 释义 |
charm
I. \ˈchärm, -ȧm\ noun
(-s)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English charme, from Old French, from Latin carmen song, incantation, from canere to sing — more at chant
1.
a. : the chanting or reciting of a verse supposed to have magic or occult power : incantation
b. : an action, process, or thing (as a word, phrase, or verse) believed to have such power : a magic spell
2. : something worn about the person to ward off evil or ensure good fortune : amulet
3.
a. : a trait that fascinates, allures, or delights : a combination of entirely attractive and delightful traits
< a new and even greater charm — the fascination of the unknown and mysterious — W.H.Hudson †1922 >
< one of the great charms of Lawrence … was that he could never be bored — Aldous Huxley >
b. : an alluring physical attribute — used in plural
< a dancer revealing her charms >
c. : compelling attractiveness and appeal dispelling any possible reserved or antagonistic feeling
< Alan, whose educated charm had enabled him to marry an heiress — John Galsworthy >
< an island of great charm, with its pleasing Mediterranean climate, its forest-clad mountains, its vineyards — Charles Woolley >
4. : a small ornament worn usually on a bracelet or chain; especially : a metal miniature replica so worn
< a charm bracelet >
•
- like a charm
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English charmen, from Old French charmer, from Late Latin carminare to enchant, sing, make verses, from Latin carmin-, carmen song, incantation
transitive verb
1. : to influence or control by or as if by charms:
a. : to subdue, dominate, change, or hold under a spell by magic power or power like magic in its supposed effectiveness
b. : to summon or sway by an attraction magical or otherwise compelling
< only his daughter had the power of charming this black brooding from his mind — Charles Dickens >
c. : to please, soothe, or delight by compelling attraction
< what had charmed her in it would still charm her, even though … against her will — Edith Wharton >
d. : to check, assuage, or calm as if by magic
< charm his rage with soft answers >
< charm his grief >
2. : to endow with supernatural powers by means of charms; especially : to protect by spells, charms, or supernatural influences
< Milo brought an action against him for violence, but Clodius was charmed even against forms of law — J.A.Froude >
3. obsolete : to conjure or exhort (a person) typically with a special appeal
< charm a woman, by her husband's love, to speak >
4. : to summon, guide, control, or inveigle (an animal) typically by charms, music, or blandishment
< an early Norwich Pied Piper used a violin to charm rattlesnakes — American Guide Series: Connecticut >
< you can still charm a bird off a tree — Philip Barry >
intransitive verb
1. : to use enchantments and spells : practice magic and enchantment
< no fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm — Shakespeare >
2. : to have the effect of a charm : please, delight, fascinate
< a philosophy that charms by its completeness — H.O.Taylor >
Synonyms: see attract
III. noun
(-s)
Etymology: probably by folk etymology from chirm (I)
1. now dialect England : a blended or confused noise (as of voices or bird songs) : chirm
2. of finches : flock
IV. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
obsolete : to make music upon : play, tune
V. noun
: a quantum characteristic of subatomic particles that accounts for the unexpectedly long lifetime of the J/psi particle, explains various difficulties in the theory of the weak force, is conserved in interactions involving electromagnetism or the strong force, and has a value of zero for most known particles |