tintinnabulation

noun

tin·​tin·​nab·​u·​la·​tion ˌtin-tə-ˌna-byə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the ringing or sounding of bells

2

: a jingling or tinkling sound as if of bells

Did you know?

If the sound of tintinnabulation rings a bell, that may be because it traces to a Latin interpretation of the sound a ringing bell makes. Our English word derives from tintinnabulum, the Latin word for "bell." That Latin word, in turn, comes from the verb tintinnare, which means "to ring, clang, or jingle." Like the English terms "ting" and "tinkle," tintinnare originated with a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it-that is, it is onomatopoeic. Edgar Allan Poe celebrates the sonic overtones of tintinnabulation in his poem "The Bells," which includes lines about "the tintinnabulation that so musically wells / From the bells, bells, bells, bells, / Bells, bells, bells-/ From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells."

Synonyms

• chime(s)
• jingle
• tinkle

Examples of tintinnabulation in a Sentence

the merry tintinnabulation of church bells

Recent Examples on the Web

Though this installation of tintinnabulation has been a feature of the garden for more than a decade, some frequent visitors only noticed the chimes this summer, when a small crew recently installed them in a large linden tree adjacent to Parade Stadium. —Kim Hyatt, Star Tribune, 23 July 2021

Shivaree, chthonian, erumpent, tintinnabulation, exonumia, requiescat, deipnosophist, omphaloskepsis, horripilation, deliquesce, apopemptic. —Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2021

Two dozen billiard balls roll on tracks, striking a series of devices that set off a tintinnabulation of bells, chimes and metallic clinks. —Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2021

The delicate tintinnabulation of Adasiewicz’s vibes dovetailed with Reed’s telegraphic drum work, Reid’s amber cellos lines, Johnson’s silvery trumpet phrases and Heinemann’s warmly resonant bass. —Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 27 Sep. 2020

Adasiewicz’s score reflects the impressionistic quality Christopher describes, the tintinnabulation of his vibraphone echoed in silvery streaks of melody from Berman’s cornet and washes of sound from Drake’s percussion. —Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 2 Nov. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Latin tintinnabulum bell, from tintinnare to ring, jingle, from tinnire

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

tintinnabulation

noun

tin·​tin·​nab·​u·​la·​tion ˌtin-tə-ˌnab-yə-ˈlā-shən 

: the ringing of bells or a similar sound