psalm

/sɑ(l)m/

/sɑm/

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

1. noun

   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
2. verb

   sing or celebrate in psalms
   “He psalms the works of God”

   type of:

   sing

   produce tones with the voice