wring Hear it!

wring Definition

wring (riŋ)

transitive verb wrung or Rarewringed, wring·ing

    1. to squeeze, press, twist, or compress, esp. so as to force out water or other liquid
    2. to force out (water or other liquid) by this means, as from wet clothes: usually with out
  1. to clasp and twist (the hands) together as an expression of distress
  2. to clasp (another's hand) forcefully in greeting
  3. to wrench or twist forcibly
  4. to get or extract by force, threats, persistence, etc.; extort
  5. to afflict with anguish, distress, pity, etc. a story to wring one's heart

Etymology: ME wringen < OE wringan, to press, compress, strain, akin to Ger ringen, to struggle, wrestle < IE *wreng- < base *wer-, to turn, bend > worm

intransitive verb

to writhe, squirm, or twist with force or great effort

noun

the action of wringing or twisting

wring Synonyms

wring

v.

press out, squeeze out, extract, compress, twist, turn, strain, contort, bleed out, draw from.

wring Usage Examples

Object

  • ounce: Mr Blast gives us a tough, tough tune, unsurprisingly written by Sam Dees, that he wrings every ounce of emotion from.
  • concession: Again, I think the party has wrung some quite significant concessions out of them for example on pensions.
  • neck: He has the grip of a man who's used to wringing the necks of wounded game birds.
  • drop: I'm wringing every last drop out of the time available to me.
  • heart: For however the world may have made progress there are still many situations that wring the heart with anguish.
  • hand: Some have said so with glee, others with wringing hands and a heavy heart.

Preposition: out

sponge: Moisture in the compost heap should be similar to a wrung out sponge.

Adjective complement

  • wet: Our clothes are always wringing wet, we are obliged to wash all over twice a day.
  • dry: Clean mops with soap and water rinsing in a bleach solution, wring as dry as possible and then hang to dry.

Modifying Another Word

  • still: For example, you would not want to apply high voltage to a product which is still wringing wet from its humidity experience!
  • then: There is no point in planting a perennial that needs plenty of moisture and then wringing your hands when it doesn't survive.
  • n't: Do n't wring out or agitate too much and dry flat.
  • not: Cool hand wash or can be dry cleaned, do not wring or spin, dry flat, do not iron.
  • well: Rinse the floor by using a mop or cloth in cold water only again making sure the cloth or mop is well wrung out.
  • just: Shall we just wring our hands at what the local lads get up to?

Followed by an intransitive particle

off: The gnawing off of a limb is so common that it has been given the term ' wringing off ' by trappers.

Particle object:

  • water: Stopped at Tintern Station picnic site to wring out the water.
  • towel: If you have a freezer you could wring out a wet towel and freeze it.
  • clothes: Behind them a third girl is using a small mangle to wring out the clothes.

Preposition: of

hand: This must cause much wringing of hands among the bambiists, who hate the thought of anyone enjoying the proliferation of wild game.