Collins English-English Dictionary

ring [rɪŋ]

1. 1. n a circular band usually of a precious metal, esp gold, often set with gems and worn upon the finger as an adornment or as a token of engagement or marriage

2. 2. n [botany] [chem] closed chain a closed loop of atoms in a molecule

3. 3. n any object or mark that is circular in shape

4. 4. n a circular path or course

   to run around in a ring

5. 5. n a group of people or things standing or arranged so as to form a circle

   a ring of spectators

6. 6. n an enclosed space, usually circular in shape, where circus acts are performed

7. 7. n a square apron or raised platform, marked off by ropes, in which contestants box or wrestle

8. 8. n the field of competition or rivalry

9. 9. vt. null ringbark

10. 10. n a group of people usually operating illegally and covertly

    a drug ring

    a paedophile ring

    a ring of antique dealers

11. 11. n (esp at country fairs) an enclosure, often circular, where horses, cattle, and other livestock are paraded and auctioned

12. 12. n an area reserved for betting at a racecourse

13. 13. n a circular strip of bark cut from a tree or branch, esp in order to kill it

14. 14. n a single turn in a spiral

15. 15. n [geometry] the area of space lying between two concentric circles

16. 16. n [maths] a set that is subject to two binary operations, addition and multiplication, such that the set is an Abelian group under addition and is closed under multiplication, this latter operation being associative

17. 17. n short for annual ring

18. 18. n [astronomy] any of the thin circular bands of small bodies orbiting a giant planet, esp Saturn - See also Saturn

19. 19. vt. [tr] to surround with or as if with or form a ring; encircle

20. 20. vt. to mark (a bird) with a ring or clip for subsequent identification

21. 21. vt. to fit a ring in the nose of (a bull, pig, etc) so that it can be led easily

22. 22. vt. to cut away a circular strip of bark from (a tree or branch) in order to kill it

23. 23. vt. to cut a narrow or partial ring from (the trunk of a tree) in order to check or prevent vigorous growth

24. 24. vt. [Austral and NZ] to be the fastest shearer in a shearing shed (esp in the phrase ring the shed)

25. 25. vt. [Etymology] Old English hring; related to Old Norse hringr

ring [rɪŋ]

1. 1. vb to emit or cause to emit a sonorous or resonant sound, characteristic of certain metals when struck

2. 2. vi. [chiefly Brit] ring up to call (a person) by telephone

3. 3. vb to cause (a bell) to emit a ringing sound by striking it once or repeatedly or (of a bell) to emit such a sound

4. 4. vt. [tr] to cause (a large bell, esp a church bell) to emit a ringing sound by pulling on a rope that is attached to a wheel on which the bell swings back and forth, being sounded by a clapper inside it - Compare chime

5. 5. vi. [intr] (of a bell) to sound by being swung in this way

6. 6. vi. [intr] (of a building, place, etc) to be filled with sound; echo

   the church rang with singing

7. 7. vi. [intr; foll by for] to call by means of a bell, buzzer, etc

   to ring for the butler

8. 8. vt. [tr] to strike or tap (a coin) in order to assess its genuineness by the sound produced

9. 9. vi. [intr] (of the ears) to have or give the sensation of humming or ringing

10. 10. vi. [intr] [electronics] (of an electric circuit) to produce a damped oscillatory wave after the application of a sharp input transition

11. 11. vi. [slang] to change the identity of (a stolen vehicle) by using the licence plate, serial number, etc, of another, usually disused, vehicle

12. 12. n the act of or a sound made by ringing

13. 13. n a sound produced by or suggestive of a bell

14. 14. n any resonant or metallic sound, esp one sustained or re-echoed

    the ring of trumpets

15. 15. n [informal] [chiefly Brit] a telephone call

    he gave her a ring last night

16. 16. n the complete set of bells in a tower or belfry - See peal

    a ring of eight bells

17. 17. n an inherent quality or characteristic

    his explanation has the ring of sincerity

18. 18. n [electronics] the damped oscillatory wave produced by a circuit that rings

19. 19. n See also ring back ring in ring off ring out ring up

20. 20. n [Etymology] Old English hringan; related to Old High German hringen Old Norse hringja

21. 21. n [Usage] Rang and sang are the correct forms of the past tenses of ring and sing, although rung and sung are still heard informally and dialectally: he rung (rang) the bell