Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense charms, present participle charming, past tense, past participle charmed
1. variable noun
Charm is the quality of being pleasant or attractive.
'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs', the 1937 Disney classic, has lost none of itsoriginal charm.
The house had its charms, not the least of which was the furniture that came withit.
2. uncountable noun
Someone who has charm behaves in a friendly, pleasant way that makes people like them.
He was a man of great charm and distinction.
Synonyms: attraction, appeal, fascination, allure More Synonyms of charm
3. verb
If you charm someone, you please them, especially by using your charm.
He even charmed Mrs Prichard, carrying her shopping and flirting with her. [VERB noun]
At first we were charmed by his straight talk and eccentric antics. [VERB noun]
You can't force–or even charm–him into behaving differently if he doesn't want to. [V n into -ing]
4. verb
If you charm your way into or out of a place or situation, you use your charm to get into or out of that place or situation.
...charming his way into the British Embassy in Teheran. [Vway prep]
He charmed his way out of trouble. [Vway prep]
5. verb
If you say that someone charmed something out of you or from you, you mean that they used their charm to persuade you to give it to them.
[disapproval]
He is good at charming money out of companies. [V n from/out of n]
6. countable noun
A charm is a small ornament that is fixed to a bracelet or necklace.
7. countable noun
A charm is an act, saying, or object that is believed to have magic powers.
They cross their fingers and spit over their shoulders as charms against the evileye.
...a good luck charm.
Synonyms: spell, magic, enchantment, sorcery More Synonyms of charm
8.
See turn on the charm
9.
See work/go/run like a charm
More Synonyms of charm
charm in British English1
(tʃɑːm)
noun
1.
the quality of pleasing, fascinating, or attracting people
2.
a pleasing or attractive feature
3.
a small object worn or kept for supposed magical powers of protection; amulet; talisman
4.
a trinket worn on a bracelet
5.
a magic spell; enchantment
6.
a formula or action used in casting such a spell
7. physics
an internal quantum number of certain elementary particles, used to explain some scattering experiments
8. like a charm
verb
9.
to attract or fascinate; delight greatly
10.
to cast a magic spell on
11.
to protect, influence, or heal, supposedly by magic
12. (transitive)
to influence or obtain by personal charm
he charmed them into believing him
Word origin
C13: from Old French charme, from Latin carmen song, incantation, from canere to sing
charm in British English2
(tʃɑːm)
noun
Southwest England dialect
a loud noise, as of a number of people chattering or of birds singing
Word origin
C16: variant of chirm
charm in American English
(tʃɑrm)
noun
1.
a.
a chanted word, phrase, or verse assumed to have magic power to help or hurt; incantation
b.
the chanting of such a word, phrase, or verse
2.
any object assumed to have such power, as an amulet or talisman
3.
any trinket worn as a decoration on a bracelet, necklace, watch chain, etc.
4.
any action or gesture assumed to have magic power
5.
a quality or feature in someone or something that attracts or delights people
6. Particle Physics
an individuating property of quarks and other elementary particles: it is expressed as a quantum number, with +1 used of a particle that has charm (charmed particle) and 0 used of one that does not
verb transitive
7.
to act on as though by magic; seemingly cast a spell on
8.
to protect from harm as though by magic
9.
to attract or please greatly; enchant; allure; fascinate; delight
verb intransitive
10.
to practice magic
11.
to be charming; please greatly
SIMILAR WORDS: atˈtract
Word origin
ME charme < OFr < L carmen, song, verse, charm < *canmen < canere, to sing: see chant
Examples of 'charm' in a sentence
charm
No family leads a charmed life for long.
Bethune, Helen Positive Parent Power (1991)
You have the right mix of confidence and charm to get through to people.
The Sun (2008)
He hits me with a charm offensive.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They were not really a lucky charm.
The Sun (2014)
Oscar is quick to see the charm of the place.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That easy charm and social confidence is a must.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This is so outrageous it has a certain charm.
Thomas Blaikie Blaikie's Guide to Modern Manners (2005)
All these beliefs meant there had to be some good luck charms to counteract them.
Grunfield, Nina A Miscellany of Mother's Wisdom (1994)
You have the strength for cash bargains and the charm that makes people help you.
The Sun (2011)
It was always a pleasure to appear before a man of such charm and erudition.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He has the charm to get away with it.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Are they on some kind of charm offensive?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The charm bracelet itself has come in and out of fashion over the decades.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Such lucky charms are often bought by women seeking to become pregnant.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Has he not always a spell, a charm?
Charlotte M. Yonge The Daisy Chain (1837)
With personality comes a form of charm, wit and wisdom.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But viewed from the outside, it retains the charm of the original.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Latvia's goal led a charmed life.
The Sun (2015)
This is a production of charm, wit and intelligence.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That's the charm of the place.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Part of the charm of the house is the mix of Gothic and Classic detail.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
For more houses with Gallic charm, visit timesonline.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Quotations
You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear questionAlbert CamusThe Fall
In other languages
charm
British English: charm /tʃɑːm/ NOUN
Charm is the quality of being attractive and pleasant.
This classic film has lost none of its original charm.
American English: charm
Arabic: فِتْنَة
Brazilian Portuguese: charme
Chinese: 魅力
Croatian: šarm
Czech: šarm
Danish: charme
Dutch: charme
European Spanish: encanto
Finnish: viehätysvoima
French: charme
German: Charme
Greek: γοητεία
Italian: fascino
Japanese: 魅力
Korean: 매력
Norwegian: sjarm
Polish: urok
European Portuguese: charme
Romanian: șarm
Russian: шарм
Latin American Spanish: encanto
Swedish: charm
Thai: เสน่ห์
Turkish: çekim
Ukrainian: шарм
Vietnamese: sức quyến rũ
British English: charm VERB
If you charm someone, you please them, especially by using your charm.
He even charmed the old woman, carrying her groceries and flirting with her.
American English: charm
Brazilian Portuguese: encantar
Chinese: 取悦用魅力
European Spanish: hechizar
French: charmer
German: bezaubern
Italian: conquistare
Japanese: 魅了する
Korean: 매혹하다
European Portuguese: encantar
Latin American Spanish: hechizar
All related terms of 'charm'
charm quark
→ charmed quark
lucky charm
an object that is believed to bring its owner good luck
charm school
a school teaching manners and social skills
charm bracelet
a bracelet that has small ornaments fixed to it
charm offensive
If you say that someone has launched a charm offensive , you disapprove of the fact that they are being very friendly to their opponents or people who are causing problems for them.
like a charm
perfectly ; successfully
turn on the charm
If someone turns on the charm , they behave in a way that seems very friendly but which you think is insincere , often in order to obtain something or deceive someone.
work/go/run like a charm
If you say that something worked like a charm , you mean that it was very effective or successful .
be charm, success, etc personified
to be very charming , successful , etc
Chinese translation of 'charm'
charm
(tʃɑːm)
n
(c/u)[of place, thing]魅力 (mèilì) (种(種), zhǒng)
[of person]迷人的特性 (mírén de tèxìng) (个(個), gè)
(c) (for good luck) 护(護)身符 (hùshēnfú) (个(個), gè)
(c) (= spell) 符咒 (fúzhòu)
(c) (on bracelet, necklace) 坠(墜)儿(兒) (zhuìr)
vt
迷住 (mízhù)
1 (noun)
Definition
the quality of attracting, fascinating, or delighting people
He was a man of great distinction and charm.
Synonyms
attraction
It was never a physical attraction, just a meeting of minds.
appeal
It was meant to give the party greater public appeal.
fascination
She had a charm and fascination all of her own.
allure
It's a game that has really lost its allure.
magnetism
There was no doubting the animal magnetism of the man.
desirability
Rumours of her desirability had not been exaggerated.
allurement
Opposites
unattractiveness
,
repulsiveness
2 (noun)
Definition
a trinket worn on a bracelet
She wore a silver bracelet hung with charms.
Synonyms
trinket
3 (noun)
Definition
a small object worn for supposed magical powers
He carried a rabbit's foot as a good luck charm.
Synonyms
talisman
a talisman with protective powers
amulet
He brought forth a small gold amulet.
lucky piece
good-luck piece
fetish
Tribal elders carried the sacred fetishes.
periapt (rare)
4 (noun)
Definition
a magic spell
They cross their fingers and spit over their shoulders as a charm against the evil eye.
Synonyms
spell
Vile witch! She cast a spell on me!
magic
The singer believes he can still regain some of his old magic.
enchantment
an effective countercharm against enchantment by the faerie folk
sorcery
The man swore never to practise sorcery again, and was released.
makutu (New Zealand)
1 (verb)
Definition
to attract, fascinate, or delight
My sister charms everyone she meets.
Synonyms
attract
Summer attracts visitors to the countryside.
win
please
This comment pleased her immensely.
delight
The report has delighted environmentalists.
fascinate
She fascinated us, on and off stage.
absorb
entrance
She entranced the audience with her classical Indian singing.
win over
enchant
This book will enchant readers.
captivate
I was captivated by her sparkling personality.
beguile
Her paintings beguiled the critics.
allure
The dog was allured by the smell of roasting meat.
bewitch
She was not moving, as if someone had bewitched her.
ravish
an eerie power to ravish the eye and seduce the soul
mesmerize
There was something about her which mesmerized him.
enrapture
enamour
Opposites
alienate
,
repel
,
repulse
2 (verb)
Definition
to influence or obtain by personal charm
I'm sure you'll be able to charm him into taking you.
Synonyms
persuade
My husband persuaded me to come.
seduce
The view of the lake and plunging cliffs seduces visitors.
coax
After lunch she coaxed him into talking about himself.
beguile
cajole
It was he who cajoled the actor into making the film.
sweet-talk (informal)
He even tried to sweet-talk the policewoman who arrested him.
Quotation
You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question [Albert Camus – The Fall]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of allure
Definition
attractiveness or appeal
It's a game that has really lost its allure.
Synonyms
attractiveness,
appeal,
charm,
attraction,
lure,
temptation,
glamour,
persuasion,
enchantment,
enticement,
seductiveness
in the sense of allure
The dog was allured by the smell of roasting meat.
Synonyms
attract,
persuade,
charm,
win over,
tempt,
lure,
seduce,
entice,
enchant,
lead on,
coax,
captivate,
beguile,
cajole,
decoy,
inveigle
in the sense of amulet
Definition
a trinket or jewel worn as a protection against evil