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Sing vs Chant - What's the difference?

sing | chant |

As verbs the difference between sing and chant

is that sing is to produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice while chant is to sing, especially without instruments, and as applied to monophonic and pre-modern music.

As nouns the difference between sing and chant

is that sing is a gathering for the purpose of singing songs while chant is type of singing done generally without instruments and harmony.

sing

English

Verb

  • To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice.
  • "I really want to sing in the school choir." said Vera .
  • To express audibly by means of a harmonious vocalization.
  • * {{quote-book, 1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, chapter=The Tutor's Daughter, Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion, page=266 citation
  • , passage=In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.}}
  • To soothe with singing.
  • to sing somebody to sleep
  • (slang) To confess under interrogation.
  • To make a small, shrill sound.
  • The air sings in passing through a crevice.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • O'er his head the flying spear / Sang innocent, and spent its force in air.
  • To relate in verse; to celebrate in poetry.
  • * Prior
  • Bid her sing / Of human hope by cross event destroyed.
    (Milton)

    Derived terms

    * besing * sing along / sing-along * singer * sing from the same hymnbook * singing cowboy * sing out * singsong * sing soprano * sing the praises

    See also

    * singe

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A gathering for the purpose of singing songs.
  • * 2002 , Martha Mizell Puckett, ?Hoyle B. Puckett, Memories of a Georgia Teacher: Fifty Years in the Classroom (page 198)
  • Some of the young folks asked Mrs. Long could they have a sing at her home that Sunday afternoon; she readily agreed, telling them to come early, bring their songbooks, and have a good sing.

    chant

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic) chaunt

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To sing, especially without instruments, and as applied to monophonic and pre-modern music.
  • * Spenser
  • The cheerful birds do chant sweet music.
  • To sing or intone sacred text.
  • Noun

    (wikipedia chant) (en noun)
  • Type of singing done generally without instruments and harmony.
  • (music) A short and simple melody, divided into two parts by double bars, to which unmetrical psalms, etc., are sung or recited. It is the most ancient form of choral music.
  • Twang; manner of speaking; a canting tone.
  • * Macaulay
  • His strange face, his strange chant .
  • A repetitive song, typically an incantation or part of a ritual.
  • Anagrams

    * ----