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ring²

(rĭng)

v. rang (răng), rung (rŭng), ring·ing, rings

v.intr.

1. To give forth a clear resonant sound.

2. To cause something to ring.

3. To sound a bell in order to summon someone: I'll ring for the maid.

4. To have a sound or character suggestive of a particular quality: a story that rings true.

5. To be filled with sound; resound: The room rang with the children's laughter.

6. To hear a persistent humming or buzzing: My ears were ringing from the sound of the blast.

7. To be filled with talk or rumor: The whole town rang with the bad news.

v.tr.

1. To cause (a bell, for example) to ring.

2. To produce (a sound) by or as if by ringing.

3. To announce, proclaim, or signal by or as if by ringing: a clock that rings the hour.

4. 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.

5. To test (a coin, for example) for quality by the sound it produces when struck against something.

1. The sound created by a bell or another sonorous vibrating object.

2. A loud sound, especially one that is repeated or continued.

3. A telephone call: Give me a ring when you have time.

4. A suggestion of a particular quality: His offer has a suspicious ring.

5. A set of bells.

6. The act or an instance of sounding a bell.

Phrasal Verb:

ring up

1. To record, especially by means of a cash register: ring up a sale.

2. To accomplish or achieve: rang up several consecutive victories.

3. Baseball

a. To call (a batter) out on strikes. Used of an umpire.

b. To strike out (a batter). Used of a pitcher.

Idioms:

ring a bell Informal

To arouse an often indistinct memory.

ring down the curtain

To end a performance, event, or action.

ring (someone's) chimes/bells Slang

To knock (an opponent) out by physical or other force.

ring up the curtain

To begin a performance, event, or action.

[Middle English ringen, from Old English hringan.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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