Psalm

ˈsɑːm

nounmediumCommonArts

Definitions

1

A sacred song or hymn, especially one found in the Book of Psalms in the Bible.

ˈsɑːm

nounpositivemedium
Arts

A sacred song or hymn

The choir sang a beautiful psalm during the wedding ceremony.

💡 Simply: Imagine a really beautiful song you sing at church or a special gathering. That's a psalm! It's a way of expressing your feelings and praising someone or something important.

👶 For kids: A special song that's like a prayer or a song to God.

More Examples

2

The rabbi recited a psalm of praise.

3

The Book of Psalms contains many moving verses.

How It's Used

Religious

"The congregation sang a psalm during the service."

Literary

"The poet's work was inspired by the psalms of David."

From Old French psalme, and directly from Late Latin psalmus, from Greek psalmos ('song sung to a harp'), from psallein ('to pluck, twang'). Originally referred to a song or hymn, especially a sacred one.

Psalms have been a central part of Jewish and Christian religious practice for thousands of years. The Psalms have inspired countless poems and works of art.

Memory tip

Think of the word as a song, or a piece of music that is sung to honor God.

psalmsalm

Usage

20%Spoken
80%Written