Main Entry: wring

Pronunciation: \ˈriŋ\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): wrung \ˈrəŋ\; wring·ing \ˈriŋ-iŋ\

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wringan; akin to Old High German ringan to struggle, Lithuanian rengtis to bend down, Old English wyrgan to strangle — more at worry

Date: before 12th century

transitive verb 1 : to squeeze or twist especially so as to make dry or to extract moisture or liquid <wring a towel dry>
2 : to extract or obtain by or as if by twisting and compressing <wring water from a towel> <wring a confession from the suspect>
3 a : to twist so as to strain or sprain into a distorted shape <I could wring your neck> b : to twist together (clasped hands) as a sign of anguish
4 : to affect painfully as if by wringing : torment <a tragedy that wrings the heart>intransitive verb : squirm, writhe

— wring noun