charm

Charm is a quality that makes a person or thing attractive or pleasing, often facilitating positive social interaction. The term also refers to tangible objects worn or carried for decoration or symbolism, and in folklore to magical objects or spells intended to influence events.

Etymology: The word derives from Old French charme, from Latin carmen, meaning “song” or “spell.” Over time, its senses broadened from magical enchantment to the more secular idea of persuasive appeal or attractiveness.

Social charm: In psychology and everyday usage, charm denotes a set of behaviors—warmth, confidence, humor, empathy, and good listening—that facilitate conversation, rapport, and influence. Charm is related but not identical to charisma; charisma implies a more intense, persuasive presence, whereas charm often emphasizes approachability and likability.

Folk and culture: In folklore and fiction, a charm is a talisman, incantation, or ritual object believed to bring luck, ward off harm, or influence others—love charms and protective talismans appear across many cultures.

Adornment: A charm is also a small decorative pendant or token, commonly used on bracelets or necklaces. Charm bracelets feature individual charms representing personal interests or milestones.

Science: In particle physics, charm is the name of a quark flavor, one of the six fundamental constituents in the Standard Model. The charm quark was confirmed experimentally in the 1970s and plays a role in certain hadrons and weak interactions.

See also: charisma, magnetism, talisman, enchantment, charm bracelet, charm spell, quark.