Meaning & use
tintinnabulations
Last updated
“tintinnabulations” is a form of “tintinnabulation”.
Meanings
nounusually pluralliteraryrare
The light, ringing sound made by bells, or a series of such sounds.
Grammar: Usually plural in form but treated as a plural noun: the tintinnabulations were heard. The singular tintinnabulation is rare.
Patterns
- the tintinnabulations of something
- tintinnabulations from somewhere
- a faint tintinnabulation
From the valley below came the tintinnabulations of church bells.
The tintinnabulations of the temple bells drifted across the lake at dawn.
She woke to the faint tintinnabulations of a bicycle bell in the street.
nounusually pluralliterary
A tinkling, bell-like sound of any kind, such as small bells or chimes.
Grammar: Used with of to name the source of the sound: the tintinnabulations of sleigh bells.
Patterns
- the tintinnabulations of bells
- a sound of tintinnabulations
The sleigh moved off, and the tintinnabulations of its bells faded into the snow.
He described the tintinnabulations of the wind chimes as the music of the afternoon.
Word forms
| singular | tintinnabulation |
|---|
Common combinations
- the tintinnabulations of bells
- We could hear the tintinnabulations of bells from the tower.
- faint tintinnabulations
- Faint tintinnabulations reached us from the distant monastery.
- a sound of tintinnabulations
- There was a sound of tintinnabulations as the goats crossed the meadow.
- the tintinnabulations of a bell
- The tintinnabulations of a single bell marked each hour.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tinkling
- More everyday and often used for small, light sounds; tintinnabulations is far more literary and usually suggests bells.
- chiming
- Suggests a fuller, more musical ringing, whereas tintinnabulations suggests many small, quick rings.
- ringing
- A general word for any bell sound, including loud ones; tintinnabulations is lighter and more delicate.
- jingle
- Often used for small metal objects such as coins or keys and is more informal than tintinnabulations.
Opposites
Word family
- tintinnabulation noun
- The singular form, meaning one ringing or tinkling sound.
- tintinnabulous adjective
- Rare adjective meaning full of ringing bell sounds.
Commonly confused: tintinnabulations or tintinnabulation?
tintinnabulations vs tintinnabulation
This is the singular; the plural tintinnabulations is the form usually seen in writing.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'tintinnabulations' most naturally?
Choose one answer.
'Tintinnabulations' is a literary plural noun for light bell sounds, so it fits 'the tintinnabulations of the church bells'. Option 2 wrongly uses it as a verb, option 3 treats it as singular with 'was', and option 4 treats it as a countable object you can buy.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tintinnabulations”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.