singing bowl: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1specialized / technical / spiritual
Quick answer
What does “singing bowl” mean?
A type of bowl, often made of metal, which produces a resonant, musical tone when its rim is rubbed with a mallet or stick.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of bowl, often made of metal, which produces a resonant, musical tone when its rim is rubbed with a mallet or stick.
An instrument used in meditation, sound therapy, and spiritual practices for its calming and resonant sound; often associated with Tibetan or Himalayan Buddhist traditions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; usage is identical across regions.
Connotations
Identical connotations of meditation, spirituality, and sound healing.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to niche contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “singing bowl” in a Sentence
strike a singing bowlrub the rim of a singing bowlplay a singing bowllisten to a singing bowlVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “singing bowl” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The therapist will have been singing-bowling for an hour by the time we arrive.
- They are singing-bowling to create a calm atmosphere.
American English
- She started singing-bowling during the meditation session.
- He had sung-bowled before the class began.
adverb
British English
- The mallet moved singing-bowly around the rim.
- He played the bowl very singing-bowly.
American English
- She struck the bowl singing-bowly to start the session.
adjective
British English
- The singing-bowl sound filled the room.
- It was a deeply singing-bowl experience.
American English
- A singing-bowl meditation can be very relaxing.
- The workshop had a singing-bowl focus.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in contexts selling wellness or spiritual goods.
Academic
Found in ethnomusicology, religious studies, or psychology papers on sound therapy.
Everyday
Uncommon; used when discussing meditation, yoga, or alternative therapies.
Technical
Used in sound healing, music therapy, and specific spiritual practices.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “singing bowl”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “singing bowl”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “singing bowl”
- Using 'singing bowl' to refer to any decorative or musical bowl.
- Incorrect stress: saying 'SING-ing bowl' instead of the standard 'SING-ing bowl'.
- Omitting the definite article when it's specific: 'She played the singing bowl' not 'She played singing bowl'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most famously associated with Tibetan and Himalayan traditions, similar instruments exist in other Asian cultures, and modern versions are made worldwide.
They are primarily used for meditation, relaxation, sound therapy, and in religious or spiritual rituals to focus the mind and create a calming atmosphere.
Striking creates a clear bell-like tone that fades. Rubbing the rim continuously creates a sustained, harmonic 'singing' sound.
Yes, while traditional bowls are made from various metal alloys, modern versions are also made from quartz crystal, which produces a different, clearer tone.
A type of bowl, often made of metal, which produces a resonant, musical tone when its rim is rubbed with a mallet or stick.
Singing bowl is usually specialized / technical / spiritual in register.
Singing bowl: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪŋɪŋ bəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪŋɪŋ boʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bowl that 'sings' a peaceful note when you stroke its rim, like a musical instrument you eat soup from (but don't!).
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS PURIFICATION (the bowl's sound cleanses the mind); RESONANCE IS BALANCE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you LEAST likely to encounter a 'singing bowl'?