Chant \Chant\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Chanting.]

[F. chanter, fr. L. cantare, intens. of canere to sing. Cf. Cant affected speaking, and see Hen.]

1. To utter with a melodious voice; to sing.

The cheerful birds . . . do chant sweet music. --Spenser.

2. To celebrate in song.

The poets chant in the theaters. --Bramhall.

3. (Mus.) To sing or recite after the manner of a chant, or to a tune called a chant.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Chant \Chant\, v. i.

1. To make melody with the voice; to sing. ``Chant to the sound of the viol.'' --Amos vi. 5.

2. (Mus.) To sing, as in reciting a chant.

To chant (or chaunt) horses, to sing their praise; to overpraise; to cheat in selling. See Chaunter. --Thackeray.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Chant \Chant\, n.[F. chant, fr. L. cantus singing, song, fr. canere to sing. See Chant, v. t.]

1. Song; melody.

2. (Mus.) 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.

3. A psalm, etc., arranged for chanting.

4. Twang; manner of speaking; a canting tone. [R.]

His strange face, his strange chant. --Macaulay.

Ambrosian chant, See under Ambrosian.

Chant royal [F.]

, in old French poetry, a poem containing five strophes of eleven lines each, and a concluding stanza. -- each of these six parts ending with a common refrain.

Gregorian chant. See under Gregorian.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)