ring

noun (1)

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\ ˈriŋ

Definition of ring

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : a circular band for holding, connecting, hanging, pulling, packing, or sealing a key ring a towel ring

2 : a circlet usually of precious metal worn especially on the finger

3a : a circular line, figure, or object smoke ring

b : an encircling arrangement a ring of suburbs

c : a circular or spiral course —often used figuratively in plural in the phrase run rings around to describe surpassing an opponent decisively

4a(1) : an often circular space especially for exhibitions or competitions especially : such a space at a circus

(2) : a structure containing such a ring

b : a usually square enclosure in which a fighting contest (such as a boxing or wrestling match) takes place

5 : a band of small objects revolving around a planet (such as Saturn) and composed of dust and icy or rocky fragments

6 : annual ring

7a : an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish and often corrupt purpose (as to control a market) a wheat ring

b : gang

8 : the field of a political contest : race

9 : food in the shape of a circle

10 : an arrangement of atoms represented in formulas or models in a cyclic manner

— called also cycle

11 : a set of mathematical elements that is closed under two binary operations of which the first forms a commutative group with the set and the second is associative over the set and is distributive with respect to the first operation

12 rings plural

a : a pair of usually rubber-covered metal rings suspended from a ceiling or crossbar to a height of approximately eight feet above the floor and used for hanging, swinging, and balancing feats in gymnastics

b : an event in gymnastics competition in which the rings are used

13 : boxing entry 1 ended his ring career

ring

verb (1)

ringed; ringing\ ˈriŋ-iŋ

Definition of ring (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

1 : to provide with a ring

2 : to place or form a ring around : encircle police ringed the building

3 : girdle sense 2

4 : to throw a ringer over (the peg) in a game (such as horseshoes or quoits)

intransitive verb

1a : to move in a ring

b : to rise in the air spirally

2 : to form or take the shape of a ring

ring

verb (2)

rang\ ˈraŋ

\; rung\ ˈrəŋ

\; ringing\ ˈriŋ-iŋ

Definition of ring (Entry 3 of 4)

intransitive verb

1 : to sound resonantly or sonorously the doorbell rang cheers rang out

2a : to be filled with a reverberating sound : resound the halls rang with laughter

b : to have the sensation of being filled with a humming sound his ears rang

3 : to cause something to ring ring for the butler

4a : to be filled with talk or report the whole land rang with her fame

b : to have great renown

c : to sound repetitiously their praise rang in his ears

5 : to have a sound or character expressive of some quality a story that rings true

6 chiefly British : to make a telephone call —usually used with up

transitive verb

1 : to cause to sound especially by striking

2 : to make (a sound) by or as if by ringing a bell

3 : to announce by or as if by ringing

4 : to repeat often, loudly, or earnestly

5a : to summon especially by bell

b chiefly British : telephone —usually used with up

ring a bell

: to arouse a response that name rings a bell

ring down the curtain

: to conclude a performance or an action

ring off the hook

: to ring frequently or constantly with incoming calls the telephone was ringing off the hook

ring the changes or ring changes

: to run through the range of possible variations

ring up the curtain

: to begin a performance or an action

ring

noun (2)

Definition of ring (Entry 4 of 4)

1 : a set of bells

2 : a clear resonant sound made by or resembling that made by vibrating metal

3 : resonant tone : sonority

4 : a loud sound continued, repeated, or reverberated

5 : a sound or character expressive of some particular quality the story had a familiar ring

6a : the act or an instance of ringing

b : a telephone call

First Known Use of ring

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for ring

Noun (1)

Middle English, going back to Old English hring (masculine strong noun), going back to Germanic *hrenga- (whence also Old Frisian hring, ring "ring," Old Saxon hring "chain mail," Old High German ring, rinh "ring," Old Icelandic hringr), going back to dialectal Indo-European *kreng^ho-, *krong^ho-, whence also Old Church Slavic krǫgŭ "circle, ring," Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian krûg, Polish krąg

Note: The only certain attestations of this etymon are in Germanic and Slavic. As it violates an Indo-European root structure constraint on co-occurrence of a voiceless stop and a voiced aspirate stop, the etymon is presumably late or post-Indo-European, or borrowed from an unknown source.

Verb (1)

Middle English ringen, derivative of ring ring entry 1

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English hringan; akin to Old Norse hringja to ring

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Dictionary Entries Near ring

rinforzato

ring

ring-a-levio

Statistics for ring

Cite this Entry

“Ring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ring. Accessed 17 Jan. 2022.

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More Definitions for ring

ring

noun

\ ˈriŋ

Kids Definition of ring

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : a circular band used for holding, fastening, or connecting a key ring

2 : a circular band usually of precious metal worn especially on the finger as jewelry

3 : something circular in shape a smoke ring

4 : an often circular space for shows or contests a circus ring

5 : a group of people who work together for dishonest purposes

6 : annual ring

ring

verb

ringed; ringing

Kids Definition of ring (Entry 2 of 4)

: to place or form a ring around Tall trees ring the meadow.

ring

verb

rang\ ˈraŋ \; rung\ ˈrəŋ \; ringing

Kids Definition of ring (Entry 3 of 4)

1 : to make or cause to make a clear vibrating sound The bell rang. Ring the bell.

2 : to announce by or as if by striking a bell We'll ring in the new year.

3 : to sound loudly Cheers rang out.

4 : to fill or be filled with the sound of something The hall rang with laughter.

5 : to be filled with a humming sound His ears were ringing.

6 : to seem to be a certain way Their story rings true.

7 : to call for especially by ringing a bell I rang for the servants.

ring

noun

Kids Definition of ring (Entry 4 of 4)

1 : a clear sound made by or as if by vibrating metal the ring of a bell a telephone's ring

2 : a continuous or repeating loud sound

3 : something that suggests a certain quality Their story had the ring of truth.

4 : a telephone call Give me a ring later.

ring

noun

\ ˈriŋ

Medical Definition of ring

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a circular band

b : an anatomical structure having a circular opening : annulus

2 : an arrangement of atoms represented in formulas or models in a cyclic manner as a closed chain

— called also cycle

ring

intransitive verb

rang\ ˈraŋ

\; rung\ ˈrəŋ

\; ringing\ ˈriŋ-iŋ

Medical Definition of ring (Entry 2 of 2)

: to have the sensation of being filled with a humming sound his ears rang

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ring

Definition of ring

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First Known Use of ring

History and Etymology for ring

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Kids Definition of ring

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stola

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ring

Definition of ring

Other Words from ring

First Known Use of ring

History and Etymology for ring

Learn More About ring

The first known use of ring was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near ring

Phrases Related to ring

Statistics for ring

Kids Definition of ring

Medical Definition of ring

WORD OF THE DAY

stola

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