CHARM

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does charm mean? 

• CHARM (noun)
  The noun CHARM has 4 senses:

1. attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

2. a verbal formula believed to have magical force

3. something believed to bring good luck

4. (physics) one of the six flavors of quark

  Familiarity information: CHARM used as a noun is uncommon.

• CHARM (verb)
  The verb CHARM has 4 senses:

1. attract; cause to be enamored

2. control by magic spells, as by practicing witchcraft

3. protect through supernatural powers or charms

4. induce into action by using one's charm

  Familiarity information: CHARM used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHARM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

appeal; appealingness; charm

Context example:

his smile was part of his appeal to her

Hypernyms ("charm" is a kind of...):

attractiveness (sexual allure)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "charm"):

siren call; siren song (the enticing appeal of something alluring but potentially dangerous)

winsomeness (childlike charm or appeal)

Derivation:

charm (induce into action by using one's charm)

charm (attract; cause to be enamored)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A verbal formula believed to have magical force

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

charm; magic spell; magical spell; spell

Context example:

inscribed around its base is a charm in Balinese

Hypernyms ("charm" is a kind of...):

language; oral communication; speech; speech communication; spoken communication; spoken language; voice communication ((language) communication by word of mouth)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "charm"):

conjuration; incantation (a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a magical effect)

curse; hex; jinx; whammy (an evil spell)

Derivation:

charm (protect through supernatural powers or charms)

charm (control by magic spells, as by practicing witchcraft)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Something believed to bring good luck

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

charm; good luck charm

Hypernyms ("charm" is a kind of...):

object; physical object (a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "charm"):

amulet; talisman (a trinket or piece of jewelry usually hung about the neck and thought to be a magical protection against evil or disease)

fetich; fetish; hoodoo; juju; voodoo (a charm superstitiously believed to embody magical powers)

Derivation:

charm (protect through supernatural powers or charms)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(physics) one of the six flavors of quark

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("charm" is a kind of...):

flavor; flavour ((physics) the six kinds of quarks)

Domain category:

high-energy physics; high energy physics; particle physics (the branch of physics that studies subatomic particles and their interactions)

• CHARM (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they charm    ... he / she / it charms   
Past simple: charmed   
Past participle: charmed   
-ing form: charming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Attract; cause to be enamored

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

becharm; beguile; bewitch; captivate; capture; catch; charm; enamor; enamour; enchant; entrance; fascinate; trance

Context example:

She captured all the men's hearts

Hypernyms (to "charm" is one way to...):

appeal; attract (be attractive to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "charm"):

hold (hold the attention of)

work (gratify and charm, usually in order to influence)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

Sam cannot charm Sue
The performance is likely to charm Sue

Derivation:

charm (attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates)

charmer (a person who charms others (usually by personal attractiveness))

charmer (someone with an assured and ingratiating manner)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Control by magic spells, as by practicing witchcraft

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

becharm; charm

Hypernyms (to "charm" is one way to...):

command; control (exercise authoritative control or power over)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "charm"):

bewitch; enchant; glamour; hex; jinx; witch (cast a spell over someone or something; put a hex on someone or something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

charm (a verbal formula believed to have magical force)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Protect through supernatural powers or charms

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "charm" is one way to...):

protect (shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

charm (something believed to bring good luck)

charm (a verbal formula believed to have magical force)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Induce into action by using one's charm

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

charm; influence; tempt

Context example:

She charmed him into giving her all his money

Hypernyms (to "charm" is one way to...):

persuade (cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "charm"):

bewitch; magnetise; magnetize; mesmerise; mesmerize; spellbind (attract strongly, as if with a magnet)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody into V-ing something

Sentence example:

They charm him into writing the letter

Derivation:

charm (attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates)

 Context examples 

Amy is with truth considered 'the flower of the family', for at sixteen she has the air and bearing of a full-grown woman, not beautiful, but possessed of that indescribable charm called grace.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

An important addition has been made during the last week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by these charming invaders.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

By the charming society whose leader lies in the Reichenbach Fall.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

To Fanny, however, who had known too much opposition all her life to find any charm in it, all this was unintelligible.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Every five minutes, by removing some of the crowd, gave greater openings for her charms.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Then I make a fire; and near it I make Madam Mina, now awake and more charming than ever, sit comfortable amid her rugs.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I could imagine he was speaking the thoughts of his own mind as he read to me, and his voice, reverberating deeply and mournfully in the confined cabin, charmed and held me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"It was a charm!" Ugh-Gluk exclaimed.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Tell me now, fairy as you are—can't you give me a charm, or a philter, or something of that sort, to make me a handsome man?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It would be a charming introduction for you, who have lived so secluded a life; and I could immediately secure you some of the best society in the place.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)