Collins English-English Dictionary

sing [sɪŋ]

1. 1. vb to produce or articulate (sounds, words, a song, etc) with definite and usually specific musical intonation

2. 2. vb [when intr] [ often foll by to] to perform (a song) to the accompaniment (of)

   to sing to a guitar

3. 3. vi. [intr; foll by of] to tell a story or tale in song (about)

   I sing of a maiden

4. 4. vi. [intr; foll by to] to address a song (to) or perform a song (for)

5. 5. vi. [intr] to perform songs for a living, as a professional singer

6. 6. vi. [intr] (esp of certain birds and insects) to utter calls or sounds reminiscent of music

7. 7. vi. [when intr] [ usually foll by of] to tell (something) or give praise (to someone), esp in verse

   the poet who sings of the Trojan dead

8. 8. vi. [intr] to make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound

   the kettle is singing

   the arrow sang past his ear

9. 9. vi. [intr] (of the ears) to experience a continuous ringing or humming sound

10. 10. vt. [tr] (esp in church services) to chant or intone (a prayer, psalm, etc)

11. 11. vt. [tr] to bring to a given state by singing

    to sing a child to sleep

12. 12. vi. [intr] [Slang] [chiefly US] to confess or act as an informer

13. 13. vi. [intr] [Austral] (in Aboriginal witchcraft) to bring about a person's death by incantation. The same power can sometimes be used beneficently

14. 14. n [Spoken] an act or performance of singing

15. 15. n a ringing or whizzing sound, as of bullets

16. 16. n See also sing along sing out

17. 17. n [Etymology] Old English singan; related to Old Norse syngja to sing, Gothic siggwan, Old High German singan