ring2

Syllabification: (ring)

Pronunciation: /riNG/

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Definition of ring

verb (past rang /raNG/; past participle rung /rəNG/)

1 [no object] make a clear resonant or vibrating sound:a shot rang out a bell rang loudly (as noun ringing)the ringing of fire alarms
[with object] cause (a bell or alarm) to ring:he walked up to the door and rang the bell
(of a telephone) produce a series of resonant or vibrating sounds to signal an incoming call:the phone rang again as I replaced it
call for service or attention by sounding a bell:Ruth, will you ring for some tea?
[with object] sound (the hour, a peal, etc.) on a bell or bells:a bell ringing the hour

2 (ring with/to) (of a place) resound or reverberate with (a sound or sounds):the room rang with laughter
(of a person’s ears) be filled with a continuous buzzing or humming sound, especially as the aftereffect of a blow or loud noise:he yelled so loudly that my eardrums rang
(ring with) be filled or permeated with (a particular quality):a clever retort which rang with contempt
[no object, with complement] convey a specified impression or quality:the author’s honesty rings true

3 [with object] chiefly British call by telephone:I rang her this morning Harriet rang Dorothy up next day [no object]:I tried to ring, but the lines to Moscow were engaged

noun

an act of causing a bell to sound, or the resonant sound caused by this:there was a ring at the door
each of a series of resonant or vibrating sounds signaling an incoming telephone call.
[in singular] informal a telephone call:I’d better give her a ring tomorrow
[in singular] a loud clear sound or tone:the ring of sledgehammers on metal
[in singular] a particular quality conveyed by something heard or expressed:the song had a curious ring of nostalgia to it
a set of bells, especially church bells.

Phrases

ring a bell: see bell¹.
ring the changes: see change.
ring down (or up) the curtain: cause a theater curtain to be lowered (or raised).; mark the end (or the beginning) of an enterprise or event:the sendoff rings down the curtain on a major chapter in television history
ring in one's ears (or head): linger in the memory:he left Washington with the president’s praises ringing in his ears
ring in (or out) the new (or old) year: commemorate the new year (or the end of the previous year) with boisterous celebration.
ring off the hook: North American (of a telephone) be constantly ringing due to a large number of incoming calls.

Phrasal Verbs

ring off: British end a telephone call by replacing the receiver.
ring round (or around): British telephone (several people), typically to find something out or arrange something.
ring something up: record an amount on a cash register.; make, spend, or announce a particular amount in sales, profits, or losses.

Origin:

Old English hringan, of Germanic origin, perhaps imitative

Do not confuse ring with wring. See wring.The different forms of the verb are: (rings, ringing; the past tense is rang and the past participle is rung).

ring in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of ring in the British & World English dictionary

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ring2

verb (past rang /raNG/; past participle rung /rəNG/)

noun

Phrases

ring a bell

ring the changes

ring down (or up) the curtain

ring in one's ears (or head)

ring in (or out) the new (or old) year

ring off the hook

Phrasal Verbs

ring off

ring round (or around)

ring something up

Origin:

ring in other Oxford dictionaries

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