Definitions for the word "ring" from multiple English dictionaries.
1. v. t.
To cause to sound, especially by striking, as a metallic body; as, to ring a bell.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. v. t.
To make (a sound), as by ringing a bell; to sound.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. v. t.
To repeat often, loudly, or earnestly.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. v. i.
To sound, as a bell or other sonorous body, particularly a metallic one.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. v. i.
To practice making music with bells.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. v. i.
To sound loud; to resound; to be filled with a ringing or reverberating sound.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. v. i.
To continue to sound or vibrate; to resound.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. v. i.
To be filled with report or talk; as, the whole town rings with his fame.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
9. n.
A sound; especially, the sound of vibrating metals; as, the ring of a bell.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
10. n.
Any loud sound; the sound of numerous voices; a sound continued, repeated, or reverberated.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
11. n.
A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
12. n.
A circle, or a circular line, or anything in the form of a circular line or hoop.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
13. n.
Specifically, a circular ornament of gold or other precious material worn on the finger, or attached to the ear, the nose, or some other part of the person; as, a wedding ring.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
14. n.
A circular area in which races are or run or other sports are performed; an arena.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
15. n.
An inclosed space in which pugilists fight; hence, figuratively, prize fighting.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
16. n.
A circular group of persons.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
17. n.
The plane figure included between the circumferences of two concentric circles.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
18. n.
The solid generated by the revolution of a circle, or other figure, about an exterior straight line (as an axis) lying in the same plane as the circle or other figure.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
19. n.
An instrument, formerly used for taking the sun's altitude, consisting of a brass ring suspended by a swivel, with a hole at one side through which a solar ray entering indicated the altitude on the graduated inner surface opposite.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
20. n.
An elastic band partly or wholly encircling the spore cases of ferns. See Illust. of Sporangium.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
21. n.
A clique; an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish purpose, as to control the market, distribute offices, obtain contracts, etc.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
22. v. t.
To surround with a ring, or as with a ring; to encircle.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
23. v. t.
To make a ring around by cutting away the bark; to girdle; as, to ring branches or roots.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
24. v. t.
To fit with a ring or with rings, as the fingers, or a swine's snout.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
25. v. i.
To rise in the air spirally.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
26. n.
1 circular band, usu. Of metal, worn on a finger. 2 circular band of any material. 3 rim of a cylindrical or circular object, or a line or band round it. 4 mark etc. Resembling a ring (rings round his eyes; smoke rings). 5 ring in the cross-section of a tree, produced by one year''s growth. 6 a enclosure for a circus performance, boxing, betting at races, showing of cattle, etc. B (prec. By the) bookmakers collectively. 7 a people or things in a circle.
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
27. v.
(past rang; past part. Rung) 1 (often foll. By out etc.) Give a clear resonant or vibrating sound of or as of a bell. 2 a make (esp. A bell) ring. B (absol.) Call by ringing a bell (you rang, sir?). 3 (also absol.; often foll. By up) call by telephone (will ring you). 4 (usu. Foll. By with, to) (of a place) resound with a sound, fame, etc. (theatre rang with applause). 5 (of the ears) be filled with a sensation of ringing. 6 a sound (a peal etc.) On bells. B (of a bell) sound (the hour etc.). 7 (foll. By in, out) usher in or out with bell-ringing (rang out the old year). 8 convey a specified impression (words rang true). n. 1 ringing sound or tone. 2 act or sound of ringing a bell. 3 colloq. Telephone call (give me a ring). 4 specified feeling conveyed by words etc. (had a melancholy ring). 5 set of esp. Church bells. ring back make a return telephone call to. Ring a bell colloq. Begin to revive a memory. Ring down (or up) the curtain 1 cause the curtain to be lowered or raised. 2 (foll. By on) mark the end or the beginning of (an enterprise etc.). Ring in report or make contact by telephone. Ring off end a telephone call. Ring round telephone several people. Ring up 1 call by telephone. 2 record (an amount etc.) On a cash register. [old english]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
28. slang
to change; “RINGING castors,” changing hats; “to RING the
changes,” in low life means to change bad money for good; in
respectable society the phrase is sometimes employed to denote that the
aggressor has been paid back in his own coin, as in practical joking,
when the laugh is turned against the jester. The expression originally
came from the belfry.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
29. slang
a generic term given to horse-racing and pugilism,—the latter
was sometimes termed the PRIZE-RING. From the rings used for betting and
fighting in, respectively.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
30. slang
formerly “to go through the RING,” to take advantage of the
Insolvency Act, or be “whitewashed.” Now obsolete.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
31. slang
the open space in front of a racecourse stand, which is used for
betting purposes. Betting men are nowadays known as members of the ring,
especially if they are in the habit of attending race-meetings. RING, in
America, is a combination of speculators whose object is to force the
market for their own especial benefit without any regard to order or
decency. We have similar arrangements here, but hitherto no one word has
fairly described them.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
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