chant

 
Pronunciation: /tʃɑːnt/

noun

  • 1a repeated rhythmic phrase, typically one shouted or sung in unison by a crowd: a group of young people set up a chant of ‘Why are we waiting?’
  • a repetitive song, typically an incantation or part of a ritual: he was whispering something, repeating it like a chant or a mantra
  • 2 Music a short musical passage in two or more phrases used for singing unmetrical words; a psalm or canticle sung to such music.
  • [mass noun] the style of music consisting of chants: Gregorian chant

verb

[with object]
  • say or shout repeatedly in a sing-song tone: protesters were chanting slogans [no object]: everyone was singing and chanting
  • sing or intone (a psalm, canticle, or sacred text): priests and choir chant the story of the resurrection

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'sing'): from Old French chanter 'sing', from Latin cantare, frequentative of canere 'sing'