RING (rang, rung)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ring mean? 

• RING (noun)
  The noun RING has 9 senses:

1. a characteristic sound

2. a toroidal shape

3. a rigid circular band of metal or wood or other material used for holding or fastening or hanging or pulling

4. (chemistry) a chain of atoms in a molecule that forms a closed loop

5. an association of criminals

6. the sound of a bell ringing

7. a platform usually marked off by ropes in which contestants box or wrestle

8. jewelry consisting of a circlet of precious metal (often set with jewels) worn on the finger

9. a strip of material attached to the leg of a bird to identify it (as in studies of bird migration)

  Familiarity information: RING used as a noun is familiar.

• RING (verb)
  The verb RING has 6 senses:

1. sound loudly and sonorously

2. ring or echo with sound

3. make (bells) ring, often for the purposes of musical edification

4. get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone

5. extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle

6. attach a ring to the foot of, in order to identify

  Familiarity information: RING used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A characteristic sound

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

it has the ring of sincerity

Hypernyms ("ring" is a kind of...):

sound (the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause)

Derivation:

ring (ring or echo with sound)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A toroidal shape

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Synonyms:

anchor ring; annulus; doughnut; halo; ring

Context example:

a halo of smoke

Hypernyms ("ring" is a kind of...):

toroid (the doughnut-shaped object enclosed by a torus)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ring"):

fairy circle; fairy ring (a ring of fungi marking the periphery of the perennial underground growth of the mycelium)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A rigid circular band of metal or wood or other material used for holding or fastening or hanging or pulling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

hoop; ring

Context example:

there was still a rusty iron hoop for tying a horse

Hypernyms ("ring" is a kind of...):

band (a thin flat strip of flexible material that is worn around the body or one of the limbs (especially to decorate the body))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ring"):

carabiner; karabiner; snap ring (an oblong metal ring with a spring clip; used in mountaineering to attach a rope to a piton or to connect two ropes)

collar (a short ring fastened over a rod or shaft to limit, guide, or secure a machine part)

curtain ring (a circular ring for holding up a curtain)

key ring (a circular ring of metal for holding keys)

napkin ring (a circular band used to hold a particular person's napkin)

nose ring (a ring worn on the nose as an ornament or on the nose of an animal to control it)

rim (the outer part of a wheel to which the tire is attached)

rim ((basketball) the hoop from which the net is suspended)

tire; tyre (hoop that covers a wheel)

towel ring (a circular hoop for holding a towel)

Holonyms ("ring" is a part of...):

barrel; cask (a cylindrical container that holds liquids)

wagon wheel (a wheel of a wagon)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(chemistry) a chain of atoms in a molecule that forms a closed loop

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

closed chain; ring

Hypernyms ("ring" is a kind of...):

chain; chemical chain ((chemistry) a series of linked atoms (generally in an organic molecule))

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ring"):

heterocycle; heterocyclic ring (a ring of atoms of more than one kind; especially a ring of carbon atoms containing at least one atom that is not carbon)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An association of criminals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

gang; mob; pack; ring

Context example:

a pack of thieves

Hypernyms ("ring" is a kind of...):

association (a formal organization of people or groups of people)

Meronyms (members of "ring"):

gangster; mobster (a criminal who is a member of gang)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ring"):

nest (a gang of people (criminals or spies or terrorists) assembled in one locality)

youth gang (a gang whose members are teenagers)

Holonyms ("ring" is a member of...):

gangdom; gangland; organized crime (underworld organizations)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The sound of a bell ringing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

ring; ringing; tintinnabulation

Context example:

the tintinnabulation that so voluminously swells from the ringing and the dinging of the bells

Hypernyms ("ring" is a kind of...):

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ring"):

bell ringing (the sound of someone playing a set of bells)

Derivation:

ring (get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone)

ring (sound loudly and sonorously)

ring (make (bells) ring, often for the purposes of musical edification)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A platform usually marked off by ropes in which contestants box or wrestle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("ring" is a kind of...):

platform (a raised horizontal surface)

Meronyms (parts of "ring"):

canvas; canvass (the mat that forms the floor of the ring in which boxers or professional wrestlers compete)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ring"):

boxing ring; prize ring (a square ring where boxers fight)

sumo ring (the circular ring in which Sumo wrestlers compete)

wrestling ring (a square ring in which wrestlers compete)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Jewelry consisting of a circlet of precious metal (often set with jewels) worn on the finger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

band; ring

Context example:

he noted that she wore a wedding band

Hypernyms ("ring" is a kind of...):

jewellery; jewelry (an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ring"):

engagement ring (a ring given and worn as a sign of betrothal)

mourning ring (a ring worn as a memorial to a dead person)

ringlet (a small ring)

seal ring; signet ring (a ring bearing a signet)

wedding band; wedding ring (a ring (usually plain gold) given to the bride (and sometimes one is also given to the groom) at the wedding)

Derivation:

ring (attach a ring to the foot of, in order to identify)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A strip of material attached to the leg of a bird to identify it (as in studies of bird migration)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

band; ring

Hypernyms ("ring" is a kind of...):

slip; strip (artifact consisting of a narrow flat piece of material)

Derivation:

ring (attach a ring to the foot of, in order to identify)

• RING (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sound loudly and sonorously

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

peal; ring

Context example:

the bells rang

Hypernyms (to "ring" is one way to...):

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ring"):

ding; dingdong; dong (go 'ding dong', like a bell)

tintinnabulate (ring or sound like a small bell)

peal (ring recurrently)

knell (ring as in announcing death)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Also:

ring out (sound loudly)

Derivation:

ring; ringing (the sound of a bell ringing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Ring or echo with sound

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

echo; resound; reverberate; ring

Context example:

the hall resounded with laughter

Hypernyms (to "ring" is one way to...):

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ring"):

consonate (sound in sympathy)

reecho (repeat or return an echo again or repeatedly; send (an echo) back)

reecho (echo repeatedly, echo again and again)

bong (ring loudly and deeply)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

The woods ring with many kinds of birds

Derivation:

ring (a characteristic sound)

ringing (having the character of a loud deep sound; the quality of being resonant)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make (bells) ring, often for the purposes of musical edification

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

knell; ring

Context example:

My uncle rings every Sunday at the local church

Hypernyms (to "ring" is one way to...):

sound (cause to sound)

Cause:

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ring"):

toll (ring slowly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

ring (the sound of a bell ringing)

ringer (a person who rings church bells (as for summoning the congregation))

ringing (the sound of a bell ringing)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

call; call up; phone; ring; telephone

Context example:

Take two aspirin and call me in the morning

Hypernyms (to "ring" is one way to...):

telecommunicate (communicate over long distances, as via the telephone or e-mail)

"Ring" entails doing...:

dial (operate a dial to select a telephone number)

Verb group:

call (send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone, etc.; make a signal to in order to transmit a message)

Domain category:

telephone; telephony (transmitting speech at a distance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ring"):

cell phone (call up by using a cellular phone)

call in (make a phone call)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

Sam cannot ring Sue
They ring

Derivation:

ring (the sound of a bell ringing)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

border; environ; ring; skirt; surround

Context example:

The forest surrounds my property

Hypernyms (to "ring" is one way to...):

adjoin; contact; meet; touch (be in direct physical contact with; make contact)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ring"):

hem in (surround in a restrictive manner)

cloister (surround with a cloister, as of a garden)

close in; enclose; inclose; shut in (surround completely)

cloister (surround with a cloister)

gird; girdle (put a girdle on or around)

fringe (decorate with or as if with a surrounding fringe)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Attach a ring to the foot of, in order to identify

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

band; ring

Context example:

band the geese to observe their migratory patterns

Hypernyms (to "ring" is one way to...):

attach (cause to be attached)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

ring (jewelry consisting of a circlet of precious metal (often set with jewels) worn on the finger)

ring (a strip of material attached to the leg of a bird to identify it (as in studies of bird migration))

 Context examples 

I rang the bell, therefore, to summon him.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It will ring in my ears as long as I live.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Just then a bell rang, and the green girl said to Dorothy, "That is the signal. You must go into the Throne Room alone."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

And here is the finger with the ring.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

If it were to ring right this second, who would you want calling, and what would the news be that would make you excited and happy?

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Be that as it will, I found myself suddenly awaked with a violent pull upon the ring, which was fastened at the top of my box for the conveniency of carriage.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

"Therefore, play!" was the cry that rang through her.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“Where got you all these fine feathers, Jim? Sure I am that it was not your aunt who helped you to the first step towards the prize-ring.”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This last with a sneering ring of triumph in it.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)