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. 这首歌可能会成为无阶级社会的颂歌。
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.