zingv.
/zɪŋ/, U.S. /zɪŋ/ colloquial (originally U.S.).
1.
a. intransitive. Esp. of a bullet or other object passing rapidly through the air: to make a sharp, high-pitched ringing or twanging sound. Hence: to move or progress rapidly, or with energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness. Frequently with adverb or prepositional phrase expressing direction.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move swiftly with or as with sound
thunderc1374
hurtle1509
rattle1555
skirr1567
whizz1591
brustle1638
clatter1810
whoosh1856
fizz1864
zoon1880
zing1899
skoosh1904
zoom1924
scream1943
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > resonance or sonority > ringing sound > ring [verb (intransitive)] > ping
sing1565
ping1855
pinge1888
zing1899
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > shrill quality > sound shrill [verb (intransitive)] > make shrill sound
yellOE
pipec1275
treblec1425
shrillc1440
squail1526
squeal1600
skirl1827
blat1846
whine1874
whit1899
zing1899
whee1960
1899 Butte (Montana) Weekly Miner 6 Apr. 3/5 About our ears a bumblebee's nest of Mauser bullets were zinging and zooing.
1920 S. Lewis Main St. ii. 18 Go zinging along on a fast ice-boat.
1947 Washington Post 19 Dec. 3 c/1 Cables which zing from London to Washington always refer to the British Foreign Office as Whitehall.
1973 Playboy May 44/1 As pure escapist entertainment..the movie zings right along.
2004 J. Mansell One you really Want xiv. 78 At this rate the house was going to end up like Beirut, with sniper fire zinging in all directions.
b. transitive. To cause (something) to move rapidly; esp. to hit or throw (an object) with great speed. Frequently with adverb or prepositional phrase expressing direction.
ΚΠ
1907 Los Angeles Herald 11 July 8/1 Bobby Eager, who had his batting eye right with him, zinged the ball over Cates' scalp.
1992 H. N. Schwarzkopf It doesn't take Hero ix. 137 I kept their attention..by zinging pieces of chalk against the back wall when they fell asleep in class.
2019 M. Dawidziak Shawshank Redempt. Revealed 151 Andy glimpses the ball coming towards him, whirls, catches it, and zings it back to Heywood.
c. intransitive. To be filled or alive with energy, excitement, etc.; to be vibrant or lively.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > bodily movement > move the body or a member [verb (intransitive)] > move energetically
zing1966
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > act or do vigorously [verb (intransitive)] > abound with energy
to be full of beans1833
zing1966
1966 Washington Post 23 Oct. f13/1 (caption) Innocent white wool dress with coat in photograph 1 is example of controlled exuberance in fashion designing. Every understated line is zinging with energy.
1989 M. Moffatt Coming of Age in New Jersey i. 11 I had been quiet and apparently relaxed when everyone else had been zinging with nervous tension.
2009 Church Times 4 Dec. 11/3 Carved from wood, and with their colours still zinging, the statues are life-sized and anatomically precise.
2015 Daily Tel. 17 July 27/2 In its very best moments, the film zings with an Aardman-esque zaniness that feels like pure Wright.
2. transitive. To subject (a person, organization, etc.) to sharp criticism.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > invective or abuse > abuse [verb (transitive)]
vilea1300
rebutc1330
revilea1393
arunt1399
stainc1450
brawl1474
vituper1484
rebalk1501
to call (rarely to speak) (all) to naught1542
rattle1542
vituperate1542
bedaub1570
beray1576
bespurt1579
wring1581
misuse1583
caperclaw1589
abuse1592
rail1592
exagitate1593
to shoot atc1595
belabour1596
to scour one's mouth on1598
bespurtle1604
conviciate1604
scandala1616
delitigate1623
betongue1639
bespatter1644
rant1647
palt1648
opprobriatea1657
pelt1658
proscind1659
inveigh1670
clapperclaw1692
blackguard1767
philippize1804
drub1811
foul-mouth1822
bullyrag1823
target1837
barge1841
to light on ——1842
slang1844
villainize1857
slangwhang1880
slam-bang1888
vituperize1894
bad-mouth1941
slag1958
zing1962
to dump on (occasionally all over)1967
1962 Las Vegas Sun 22 Mar. 23/1 Gene Woodling zinged him in a blast of an interview.
1974 Evening Herald (Rock Hill, S. Carolina) 18 Apr. 7/4 In the eighth, Mitterwald doubled and..the rest of the Cubs zinged him for not hitting a fourth homer.
2014 Pretoria (S. Afr.) News (Nexis) 28 Feb. (E1 ed.) 9 ‘How stupid they are,’ the pair sang, zinging NBC as a surprised, bemused Leno watched.
3. transitive. To deliver (a witticism, question, etc.) in a rapid, forceful, and effective manner. Also with out. Cf. zinger n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > say in a lively manner
rattle1402
pourc1451
to run off1680
twitter1689
perk1940
zing1975
1975 W. Safire Before Fall iii. vi. 179 [Nixon] read what they wrote and surprised them later by remembering it and occasionally zinging it back at them.
1977 Time 10 Jan. 26/2 Her usual practice of zinging brash, hostile questions at world leaders.
2018 Times (National ed.) (Nexis) 15 Sept. 17 Frances and Malcolm make for a memorable double act, with Frances in particular zinging out waspish one-liners.
Phrasal verbs
With adverbs in specialized senses. to zing up
1. transitive. To add energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness to (something); to enliven, invigorate. Cf. zing n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > refreshment or invigoration > refresh or invigorate [verb (transitive)]
akeleOE
restOE
comfort1303
ease1330
quickc1350
recurea1382
refresha1382
refetec1384
restorec1384
affilea1393
enforcec1400
freshc1405
revigour?a1425
recomfortc1425
recreatec1425
quicken?c1430
revive1442
cheerc1443
refection?c1450
refect1488
unweary1530
freshen1532
corroborate1541
vige?c1550
erect?1555
recollect?1560
repose1562
respite1565
rouse1574
requicken1576
animate1585
enlive1593
revify1598
inanimate1600
insinew1600
to wind up1602
vigorize1603
inspiritc1610
invigour1611
refocillate1611
revigorate1611
renovate1614
spriten1614
repaira1616
activate1624
vigour1636
enliven1644
invigorate1646
rally1650
reinvigorate1652
renerve1652
to freshen up1654
righta1656
re-enlivena1660
recruita1661
enlighten1667
revivify1675
untire1677
reanimate1694
stimulate1759
rebrace1764
refreshen1780
brisken1799
irrigate1823
tonic1825
to fresh up1835
ginger1844
spell1846
recuperate1849
binge1854
tone1859
innerve1880
fiercen1896
to tone up1896
to buck up1909
pep1912
to zip up1927
to perk up1936
to zizz up1944
hep1948
to zing up1948
juice1964
1948 Emmetsburg (Iowa) Democrat 15 Apr. 2/2 We were getting all zinged up thinking of the summer and its tent shows, carnivals, etc.
1970 New Yorker 14 Nov. 154 Charles Revson is the philosopher-king of the cosmetic world... He claims to know by instinct how to ‘zing up’ a face.
2009 Times 21 Feb. (Weekend section) 13/2 A growing demand among couples to buy erotic gifts for each other to zing up their sex lives.
2. transitive. To add a zesty, tangy, or piquant flavour to (food). Cf. zing n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > seasoning > season [verb (transitive)]
savourc1384
seasonc1400
condimentc1420
powder?c1425
saucea1438
pointa1450
tastea1577
palate1610
scent1655
condite1657
zest1705
kitchen1720
dress1795
flavour1830
to zing up1953
zap1979
1953 Vogue Feb. 237/4 The paste is made of skinned and boned sardines crushed to a cream and zinged up with pepper and mustard and chopped parsley and a whiff of onion juice.
1978 Chicago June 234/3 Delicious, spicy pickled-pepper relish..which you can use to zing up the otherwise mild dishes.
2005 Time Out 7 Dec. 161/2 Serious pastry wrapped around tasty fillings, zinged up with the citrus tang of sumac spice.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2021; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
zingint.n.
/zɪŋ/, U.S. /zɪŋ/ colloquial.
A. int.
Representing a sharp, high-pitched ringing or twanging sound, esp. one made by a rapidly moving object; (hence) representing the sudden appearance or occurrence of something.
ΚΠ
1875 F. Lyster tr. J. Offenbach Madame l'Archiduc ii. 23 At evening all the neighbours meet; Only hear the music ring, La, la, la! zing, zing, zing [Fr. zing zing zing]!
1912 E. Ferber Buttered Side Down (1941) 70 He just took the ball in his hand, looked at it curiously for a moment, and fired it—zing!—like that, over the plate.
1948 Sun (Baltimore) 3 Dec. 14/2 A method of freezing concentrated orange juice was developed, and zing! the first thing they knew they had a new and depression-beating industry on their hands.
1977 M. French Women's Room iv. x. 248 So one day you meet this guy, right? And, zing! He is gorgeous!
2012 Economist 29 Sept. A merlin flashed overhead—zing!—banked round and came past again, mobbed by a brave pipit.
B. n.
1. A sharp, high-pitched ringing or twanging sound, esp. one made by a rapidly moving object; a ping, a twang.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > resonance or sonority > ringing sound > [noun] > ping
ding1837
pinging1854
zing1902
whing1912
1902 Chicago Live Stock World 27 Aug. 1/6 The way he filled the atmosphere with zip, zip, zips, and zing, zing, zings, made some of the old soldiers think of times when the air was full of singing bullets.
1930 E. Ferber Cimarron xx. 331 He seized the typewriter by its steel bar and plumped it to the floor with a force that wrung a protesting whine and zing from its startled insides.
1961 E. Williams George xxv. 403 There was the confident zing of tennis-rackets in the Parks.
2003 Film Comment Jan. 16/2 When Harry wounds the villain in an empty football stadium, harsh zings across piano strings match the glare of floodlights.
2. Energy, enthusiasm, or vibrancy; a stimulating or invigorating quality which adds to the enjoyment or agreeableness of something.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [noun] > vigour or liveliness
jollinessc1386
liveliheadc1425
quicknessc1425
vyfnes1475
ramagec1485
couragea1498
liveliness1534
spritec1540
livelihood1566
life1583
sprightliness1599
sprightfulness1602
ruach1606
sprightiness1607
sparkle1611
airiness1628
vivacy1637
spiritfulness1644
spirit1651
vivacity1652
spiritedness1654
brightness1660
sprightness1660
ramageness1686
race1690
friskiness1727
spirituousness1727
vivaciousness1727
brio1731
raciness1759
phlogiston1789
animation1791
lifefulness1829
pepper-and-salt1842
corkiness1845
aliveness1853
vitality1858
music1859
virtu1876
liveness1890
zippiness1907
bounce1909
zing1917
radioactivity1922
oomph1937
pizzazz1937
zinginess1938
hep1946
vavoom1962
welly1977
masala1986
1917 Boston Sunday Globe 21 Jan. 46/2 They haven't the zip and zing that Winter gives to the Northerners.
1948 Truth (Sydney) 28 Nov. 40 The day had lost its zing but Maudie insisted on staying.
1955 ‘S. Ransome’ Deadly Bedfellows i. 7 Lake Haven's air..was full of zing and bounce.
2003 Living Etc Sept. 32/2 Splashes of hot Mexican colours add extra zing to the cool, calm, collected effect—a tomato-red lounger here, a vibrant painting there.
2011 Daily Tel. 19 Aug. 35/7 Still, the zing of the performances and choreography pull it through.
3. A zesty, tangy, or piquant flavour, as that of citrus.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > savouriness > [noun] > relish
smack1573
relish1599
gust1649
hogo1653
zest1704
zing1956
1956 Better Homes & Gardens Feb. 93/2 Special French dressing... Has the zing you like to add to a tossed salad.
1983 Daily Tel. 21 Dec. 9/2 Freshly-squeezed lemon or lime has a unique impact, adding a zing to almost any combination in flavours.
2001 M. Hughes et al. World Food: India 40 Mint is also used to add a refreshing zing in various street stall drinks, such as tea and jal jeera.
2014 Scottish Daily Mail 17 May 44/3 It's an unusual [salad] selection with less crunch, but a wonderful peppery zing.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2021; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
> as lemmas
Z-ing
a. Used (usually repeated) to represent a buzzing sound; also conventionally representing the sound of snoring. Hence Z-ing n., and as v. intransitive to make such a noise or noises.
ΘΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > sibilant sound > [noun] > buzz
buzzing1495
beminga1522
fuzzing1676
bumble1834
Z-ing1852
zizz1860
zizzing1884
zinging1921
tizziness1976
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > sibilant sound > [interjection] > buzz
Z1893
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [verb (intransitive)] > snore or make noise during sleep
snortc1386
snorec1440
Z1909
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [noun] > sound made when sleeping
Z1924
1852 H. D. Thoreau Jrnl. 15 June (1997) V. 96 The dry z-ing of the locust is heard.
1884 R. W. Buchanan New Abelard i The bats were seen flitting with thin z-like cry high up over the waterside.
1893 R. Kipling Many Inventions 103 The oars rip out and go z-zzp all along the line.
1902 S. E. White Blazed Trail ii. 11 The rhythmical z-z-z! z-z-z! [of the saw].
1909 H. G. Wells Tono-Bungay (U.K. ed.) i. ii. 67 He had a way of drawing air in at times through his teeth that gave a whispering zest to his speech. It's a sound I can only represent as a soft Zzzz.
1909 H. G. Wells Tono-Bungay (U.K. ed.) iii. ii. 326 He meditated for a time and Zzzzed softly.
1924 Dial. Notes 5 259 Z-z-z (buzzing, or snoring).
1951 Blue Book Mag. Jan. 25/1 A spark danced between two terminals, a filament snake spat an irate, ‘Zzzt!’
1966 L. Cohen Beautiful Losers i. 16 Hiccup, jerk, zzzzzz, snort.
1967 V. C. Welburn Johnny so Long ii. i. 46 Lola: (makes buzzing noise) Zzzzzzz.
1975 New Yorker 21 Apr. 36/3 David sits in the chair, puts his arms on the armrests, presses his neck against the back of the chair, and moves his feet together. ‘Zzzz,’ he says, and his head falls forward.
1976 Cambridge Independent Press 16 Dec. ii. 3/2 The zzzzz-noise of the electric hare gliding past the opening traps grabs everyone's attention.
1983 Private Eye 4 Nov. 6/2 Once you have hit on a commercial product you just go on producing more of the same, over and..zzzz..over and..zzzz..over and..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
1984 Wall St. Jrnl. 9 Oct. 28/2 We suspect public interest..more nearly resembles a cartoonist's depiction of a man sawing wood—ZZZZZZZZZ.
1984 Oxford Star 29–30 Nov. 19/3 Zzzzing off for forty winks on a regular basis may not sound much like Action Man stuff, but for Alex Gardner it's the most exciting part of the day.
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v.1899int.n.1875as lemmas