charm

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)An object, act or words believed to have magic power (usually carries a positive connotation).

   “a charm against evil”

   “It works like a charm.”

   “The witch, repository of hieratic lore and folk legends and occult arcana, became the distributor of philtres and unguents, electuaries and pastilles, herbs and charms and incantations - directed toward sexual pleasures and amatory satisfactions.”

2. (countable, in-plural, often, uncountable)The ability to persuade, delight or arouse admiration.

   “He had great personal charm.”

   “She tried to win him over with her charms.”

   “[…]the charm of Beauties powerful glance.”

   “Muſick has Charms to ſooth a ſavage Breaſt, To ſoften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.”

   “Charms ſtrike the ſight, but merit wins the ſoul.”

3. (countable, uncountable)A small trinket on a bracelet or chain, etc., traditionally supposed to confer luck upon the wearer.

   “She wears a charm bracelet on her wrist.”

4. (countable, uncountable)The collective noun for a group of goldfinches.
5. (countable, particle, uncountable)A quantum number of hadrons determined by the number of charm quarks and antiquarks.

   “In trying to understand the long life of the psi particle, physicists postulated the notion of “charm.” Charm, they say, prevents the “easy” decay of particles and thus prolongs their lifetimes. U particles, Dr. Pert said, may carry the property of charm.”

   “Mesons which combine the charmed quark with the up or down antiquarks are denoted the D mesons. These mesons carry explicit charm (i.e. have a non-zero charm quantum number), just as the K mesons carry strangeness.”

6. (countable, uncountable)A second-order measure of derivative price sensitivity, expressed as the instantaneous rate of change of delta with respect to time.
7. (countable, uncountable)An icon providing quick access to a command or setting.

   “Undoubtedly one of the most important pieces to navigating Windows 8, charms are actually not visible until a command to show them is given.”

8. The mixed sound of many voices, especially of birds or children.

   “[…]Free libertie to chaunt our charmes at will:[…]”

   “Sweet is the breath of morn, her riſing ſweet, With charm of earlieſt Birds;”

   “The laughter rose like the charm of starlings.”

9. A flock, group (especially of finches).

   “A charm of finches flew overhead, singing into the vivid afternoon sky.”

verb

1. To seduce, persuade or fascinate someone or something.

   “He charmed her with his dashing tales of his days as a sailor.”

   “[…]they, on thir mirth & dance / Intent, with jocond Muſic charm his ear;”

   “The Celebrity, by arts unknown, induced Mrs. Judge Short and two other ladies to call at Mohair on a certain afternoon when Mr. Cooke was trying a trotter on the track. The three returned wondering and charmed with Mrs. Cooke; they were sure she had had no hand in the furnishing of that atrocious house.”

2. (transitive)To use a magical charm upon; to subdue, control, or summon by incantation or supernatural influence; to ensorcel or exert a magical effect on.

   “After winning three games while wearing the chain, Dan began to think it had been charmed.”

   “Nor no witch-craft charme thee.”

3. To protect with, or make invulnerable by, spells, charms, or supernatural influences.

   “She led a charmed life.”

   “I, in mine owne woe charm’d, / Could not finde death,[…]”

4. (obsolete, rare)To make music upon.

   “But ah my corage cooles ere it be warme, / For thy, content vs in thys humble ſhade: / Where no ſuch troublous tydes han vs aſſayde, / Here we our ſlender pipes may ſafely charme.”

5. To subdue or overcome by some secret power, or by that which gives pleasure; to allay; to soothe.

   “Music the fierceſt griefs can charm, / And fate's ſevereſt rage diſarm: […]”