psalm
Other forms: psalming; psalmed
A psalm is a religious song in the Bible. While you can read psalms as prayers, they are meant to be sung.
The Book of Psalms is a section of the Christian Old Testament and the Hebrew Bible that includes 150 individual psalms. The word psalm, which is pronounced with a silent p, comes from the Greek word psalmos, "song sung to a harp," and its root, psallein, "play a stringed instrument." While they're not often backed by a harp these days, psalms are frequently sung with musical accompaniment in churches and temples.
Definitions of psalm
-
any sacred song used to praise the deity
-
type of:
-
religious text, religious writing, sacred text, sacred writing
writing that is venerated for the worship of a deity
-
religious text, religious writing, sacred text, sacred writing
-
sing or celebrate in psalms“He psalms the works of God”
-
type of:
-
sing
produce tones with the voice
-
sing
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘psalm'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback
Word Family
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Look up psalm for the last time
Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.
