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 verb1: 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 anguish4: to affect painfully as if by wringing : torment <a tragedy that wrings the heart>intransitive verb: squirm, writhe

— wring noun