a song that has a special importance for a country, an organization or a particular group of people, and is sung on special occasions 国歌；（组织或群体的）社歌，团歌 The European anthem was played at the opening and closing ceremonies. 欧洲颂歌在开幕式和闭幕式上演奏。 🔊🔊 The song could become an anthem for the classless society. 这首歌可能成为无阶级社会的国歌。
a short religious song for a choir (= a group of singers), often with an organ （宗教）颂歌（常由管风琴伴奏）
Word OriginOld English antefn, antifne (denoting a composition sung antiphonally, by two groups of people in turn), from late Latin antiphona ‘harmonies’, neuter plural of antiphōnos ‘responsive’, from anti ‘in return’ + phōnē ‘sound’. The spelling with th, which began in the 16th cent., was on the pattern of similar words such as Antony, Anthony.