Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » ring

ring

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

A ring is a small banded piece of jewelry worn around the finger, an object of a circular shape, or a bell sound. (noun)

An example of a ring is a wedding band.
An example of a ring is the sound of the phone when someone is calling.

To ring means to circle around or to make a buzzing, beeping or chiming noise. (verb)

An example of to ring is to dance around a rock.
An example of to ring is for church bells to sound every hour.

See ring in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb rang or Now Chiefly Dial.rung, rung, ringing

to give forth a clear, resonant sound when struck or otherwise caused to vibrate, as a bell
to produce, as by sounding, a specified impression on the hearer: promises that ring false
to cause a bell or bells to sound, esp. as a summons: to ring for a maid
to sound loudly or be full of sound; be resonant; resound: the room rang with laughter
to have a sensation as of ringing, humming, etc.: said of the ears or head

transitive verb

to cause (a bell, etc.) to ring
to sound (a peal, knell, etc.) by or as by ringing a bell or bells
to signal, proclaim, announce, summon, etc. by or as by ringing: chimes rang the hours
to test (coins, etc.) by the sound produced in striking on something hard
Chiefly Brit. to call by telephone: often with up
Slang to substitute (originally a racehorse) fraudulently: often with in

noun

the sound of a bell
1. any similar sound: the ring of laughter
2. any loud sound, esp. when repeated, continued, or reverberated
the characteristic sound or impression (of some feeling): the ring of sincerity
a set of bells
the act of ringing a bell, etc.
a telephone call: chiefly in , to telephone someone

noun

a small, circular band of metal, etc., esp. of precious metal, often set with gems, for wearing on the finger as an ornament or a symbol of betrothal, marriage, etc.
any similar band, as of metal, plastic, etc., used for some special purpose: a key ring, a napkin ring
a circular line, mark, or figure
the outer edge or border of something circular; rim, as of a wheel
a circular cut made, or a circle of bark cut from, around the trunk or a branch of a tree
annual ring
any of the turns in a helix or spiral
a circular course, as in dancing
a number of people or things grouped in a circle
☆ a group of people working together to advance their own interests, esp. by questionable or illegal manipulation and control, as in business, politics, etc.
an enclosed area, often circular, for contests, exhibitions, etc.: a circus ring
1. an enclosure, now usually a square, canvas-covered area set off by stakes and ropes, in which boxing and wrestling matches are held
2. the sport or profession of boxing; prizefighting: with the
3. Gym. two wooden rings suspended from a ceiling, used for acrobatic feats and routines: usually with the
4. Gym. a competitive event in which the rings are used: usually with the
a contest or competition, esp. a political one, as in throw one's hat into the ring
Astron. a flat, thin, reflective band of orbiting particles, probably ice crystals and dust, encircling a planet, as Saturn or Uranus, along its equatorial plane at altitudes below the Roche limit
Chem. closed chain
Geom. the space between two concentric circles
Math. a set of elements that has two operations, addition and multiplication, and the properties of being a commutative group under addition, of being closed and associative under multiplication and addition, and in which multiplication is distributive over addition

transitive verb ringed, ringing

to surround or encircle with or as with a ring
to form into a ring or rings
to furnish with a ring or rings
to put a ring through the nose of (an animal), as to prevent rooting or fighting
to circle about and so hem in (animals)
in some games, to toss a ring, horseshoe, quoit, etc. so that it encircles (a peg)
to girdle (a tree)

intransitive verb

to form in a ring or rings
to move in a circular or curving course; run, fly, etc. in circles or spirals

See ring in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(rĭng)

noun

A circular object, form, line, or arrangement with a vacant circular center.
A small circular band, generally made of precious metal and often set with jewels, worn on the finger.
A circular band used for carrying, holding, or containing something: a napkin ring.
rings Sports A pair of circular metal bands suspended in the air for gymnastic exercises, on which balancing and swinging maneuvers are performed while holding the bands as motionless as possible.
A circular movement or course, as in dancing.
An enclosed, usually circular area in which exhibitions, sports, or contests take place: a circus ring.
Sports
a. A rectangular arena set off by stakes and ropes in which boxing or wrestling events are held.
b. The sport of boxing.
Games
a. An enclosed area in which bets are placed at a racetrack.
b. Bookmakers considered as a group.
An exclusive group of people acting privately or illegally to advance their own interests: a drug ring.
A political contest; a race.
Botany An annual ring.
Mathematics The area between two concentric circles; annulus.
Mathematics A set of elements subject to the operations of addition and multiplication, in which the set is an abelian group under addition and associative under multiplication and in which the two operations are related by distributive laws.
Any of the turns constituting a spiral or helix.
Chemistry A group of atoms linked by bonds that may be represented graphically in circular or triangular form. Also called closed chain.

verb ringed ringed, ring·ing, rings

verb, transitive

To surround with or as if with a ring; encircle. See Synonyms at surround.
To form into a ring or rings.
To ornament or supply with a ring or rings: ringed the door knocker with a wreath of holly.
To remove a circular strip of bark around the circumference of (a tree trunk or branch); girdle.
To put a ring in the nose of (an animal).
To hem in (animals) by riding in a circle around them.
Games To toss a ring over (a peg), as in horseshoes.

verb, intransitive

To form a ring or rings.
To move, run, or fly in a spiral or circular course.

(rĭng)

verb rang rang (răng), rung rung (rŭng), ring·ing, rings

verb, intransitive

To give forth a clear resonant sound.
To cause something to ring.
To sound a bell in order to summon someone: I'll ring for the maid.
To have a sound or character suggestive of a particular quality: a story that rings true.
To be filled with sound; resound: The room rang with the children's laughter.
To hear a persistent humming or buzzing: My ears were ringing from the sound of the blast.
To be filled with talk or rumor: The whole town rang with the bad news.

verb, transitive

To cause (a bell, for example) to ring.
To produce (a sound) by or as if by ringing.
To announce, proclaim, or signal by or as if by ringing: a clock that rings the hour.
Chiefly British To call (someone) on the telephone. Often used with up: She rang me at noon. Let's ring her up and invite her.
To test (a coin, for example) for quality by the sound it produces when struck against something.

noun

The sound created by a bell or another sonorous vibrating object.
A loud sound, especially one that is repeated or continued.
A telephone call: Give me a ring when you have time.
A suggestion of a particular quality: His offer has a suspicious ring.
A set of bells.
The act or an instance of sounding a bell.

Phrasal Verb: ring up To record, especially by means of a cash register: ring up a sale. To accomplish or achieve; win: rang up several consecutive victories.

Learn more about ring

» ring synonyms

» Ring abbreviations & acronyms

» ring business definition

» ring computer definition

» ring investment & finance

» ring medical definition

» ring phrase meanings

» ring science

» ring sentence examples

» ring quote examples

Related Articles