ring1 nounring2 verbring3 verb
ringring1 /rɪŋ/ ●●● S1 W2 noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINring1
Origin:
1-2, 5, 8-11 Old English hring3-4, 6-7 1500-1600 ➔ RING1EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A ring of mountains encircles the Val d'Aosta.
- Corvino was the sixth member of the spy ring to be arrested for stealing high-tech secrets from several silicon valley firms.
- Cut the onion into rings and fry in a little oil.
- Drug rings operate in most large cities of the world.
- He sat in a corner blowing smoke rings.
- My glass left a wet ring on the table.
- napkin rings
- The children sat around him in a ring, eager to hear his story.
- The cottage was surrounded by a ring of trees.
- The cup left a dark ring on the table.
- The hostage's wrists had red rings on them where the ropes had been pulled tight.
- There was a ring at the door.
- There were two car keys on a ring that said FIAT.
- They make great onion rings there.
- You have to throw the wooden rings so that they land around the bottles.
- He died right there in the ring.
- If the rings do not align symmetrically, look for a mark on either bridle.
- Kersey blew smoke rings and watched them with approval.
- The ring glittered on its damson pouffe like some intra-uterine device.
- This elegant Borzoi is shown leaving the judging ring, calmly and with poise.
- Torn webbing between his right ring and middle fingers and a torn knee cartilage in 1992.
- When an advanced version of the ring becomes available, it will be tested in a Boston-area hospital, Yang said.
Longman Language Activatorto draw a circle around something
to draw a circle around something that is written or drawn on a page, especially in order to make it easier to see or notice: · Two of the advertisements in the paper had been circled.· Someone had ringed all the important landmarks on the map in pencil.
a circle an area or line that is in the shape of a circle: · The teacher drew a circle on the blackboard.· The circle of stones at Stonehenge is thought to have originally been a temple.· The flashlight threw a dim circle of light onto the wall.in a circle (=in a shape like a circle): · We all stood in a circle and tossed the ball to each other.form a circle (=to make a group of people or things in the shape of a circle): · I want you to form two circles, one inside the other. Boys on the outside, girls on the inside.
a line that is in the shape of a circle, especially of people or things surrounding something: · The cottage was surrounded by a ring of trees.· The cup left a dark ring on the table.· The hostage's wrists had red rings on them where the ropes had been pulled tight.in a ring (=in a shape like a circle): · The children sat around him in a ring, eager to hear his story.
a shape like a curve or a circle made by a line curving back towards itself: · The road goes round in a loop and rejoins the main road about 2 kilometres past the town.
something that is shaped like a circle an object that is in the shape of a circle with a large round space in the middle: · Cut the onion into rings and fry in a little oil.· You have to throw the wooden rings so that they land around the bottles.· He sat in a corner blowing smoke rings.
also disc British an object that is in the shape of a flat circle: · He gazed up at the pale yellow disk of the moon.· Each player chooses a coloured disk and places it on the board in the space marked 'go'.
something such as a piece of string or wire that is curved round to make a shape almost like a circle: · The gate was attached to the post by a loop of rusty wire.· Pull the end of the string through the loop and tighten.
a group of criminals a group of criminals who work together: · Warning: gangs of pickpockets operate in this area.· Police say an armed gang stole nearly $1.9 million in a bank robbery over the weekend.
a group of people who work together and organize an illegal trade, especially in something such as drugs or weapons: · Drug rings operate in most large cities of the world.· Corvino was the sixth member of the spy ring to be arrested for stealing high-tech secrets from several Silicon Valley firms.
a large and powerful organization that controls illegal businesses and criminal activities: · The syndicates see these women as easy candidates to force into the sex trade.
large criminal organizations that plan and control serious crime such as robbing banks or selling drugs: · The police need more resources to combat organized crime.
the group of secret organizations that plan and organize crime in a particular city: · Owen has been active in the Las Vegas underworld for years.· He's accused of having connections with Japan's criminal underworld.
to speak to someone by telephone · To find out more, call 555-1972.· Can you call Becky before six?· She called about twenty minutes ago.call for · I'll call for a taxi now.call roundBritish /around American (=call several people or organizations, especially to get information) · I called round to see if anyone knew where Tom was.· His secretary started calling around to find out where the commission was meeting.
also ring British · I'll phone you if there's any news.· Shall I ring Sarah to see if she wants to come out with us?· Did anyone ring while I was out?· Jill phoned to tell you she'll see you tonight.phone for · Let's phone for a pizza tonight.phone/ring round British (=telephone several people or organizations, especially to get information) · You'd better ring round some travel agents to get some prices.
to speak to someone by telephone . Telephone is more formal than phone or call , and is used especially in writing: · About five o'clock, a woman telephoned Bernstein.· For details of your nearest tourist office telephone 4127.· Mr Dodd telephoned this morning.telephone for: · Write or telephone for more information.
British /call up American to speak to someone by telephone, especially in order to have a friendly conversation with them or to ask for information: · Your uncle rang up about an hour ago.· "I don't know what time the last train is." "Well, phone up and find out."ring/call/phone up somebody: · Why don't you call up Jackie and apologize?· She uses the office phone to phone up her friends in Sweden.ring/call/phone somebody up: · John called him up to make sure of the date of the graduation ceremony.· I might phone him up at home.
also give somebody a ring British spoken to speak to someone by telephone - use this especially when you are telling someone that you will telephone them, or when you are asking them to telephone: · Just give me a call if you need anything.· Why don't I give you a ring later and find out when you'll be free?
to use the telephone to speak to someone: · Diana made a quick call to Munich before the meeting.· There's a pay phone in the lobby if you need to make a telephone call.· Limit the number of personal phone calls you make at work.
to be speaking to someone on the telephone: · Rosie's still on the phone.· There's someone on the phone for you.be on the phone to: · He was on the phone to a friend when he noticed the smoke.be on the phone with: · How long are workers on the phone with customers?talk/speak on the phone: · Marie and I talk on the phone at least once a week.have somebody on the phone (=to have someone calling you): · Mr Rogers, I have Anita Payne on the phone for you.
informal also give somebody a bell British informal to telephone someone: · I'll give Larry a buzz. Maybe he'll want to go too.· Can you give Mary a bell? She rang earlier.· Give me a ring if you decide you can come.
to succeed in reaching someone by telephone: · I tried calling my parents, but I couldn't get through.get through to: · Did you get through to Mr McWhirter?
WORD SETSasteroid, nounastro-, prefixastronaut, nounastronomical, adjectiveastronomy, nounastrophysics, nounAU, aurora borealis, nounBig Bang, the, nounblack hole, nouncelestial, adjectivecomet, nounconstellation, nouncorona, nouncosmic, adjectivecosmic ray, nouncosmology, nouncosmonaut, noundead, adjectiveearth, nouneclipse, nouneclipse, verbecliptic, nounequinox, nounescape velocity, nounextraterrestrial, adjectivegalactic, adjectivegalaxy, noungeostationary orbit, nounHubble Space Telescope, the, infinity, nounintergalactic, adjectiveinterplanetary, adjectiveinterstellar, adjectiveJupiter, nounlaunch, verblaunch, nounlight year, nounLittle Bear, lunar, adjectivelunar month, nounmagnitude, nounMars, nounMercury, nounmeteor, nounmeteoric, adjectivemeteorite, nounMilky Way, the, month, nounmoon, nounmorning star, nounNASA, nounnebula, nounNeptune, nounnew moon, nounnova, nounobservatory, nounorbit, verborbit, nounorbiter, nounouter space, nounphase, nounplanet, nounplanetarium, nounplasma, nounPluto, nounquadrant, nounquarter, nounquasar, nounradio telescope, nounring, nounrocket, nounsatellite, nounSaturn, nounsea, nounshooting star, nounsolar, adjectivesolar system, nounspace, nounspace capsule, nounspacecraft, nounspace probe, nounspaceship, nounspace shuttle, nounspace station, nounstar, nounstargazer, nounsteady state theory, nounstellar, adjectivesun, nounsunspot, nounsupernova, nountelescope, nountelescopic, adjectiveterrestrial, adjectiveUranus, nounVenus, nounwane, verbwax, verbwhite dwarf, nounworld, nounzenith, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs
To say it is the least bad system is hardly a ringing endorsement (=a statement showing strong support). A strange cry rang high into the night. Even as he spoke, Ivan was well aware of the hollow ring to his words.
· He wore a gold ring on his right hand.
· They saw I didn’t have a wedding ring on.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ring· She took off her gold ring.
· On her right hand was a huge diamond ring.
· Her fingers were clustered with heavy rings.
· She wore a plain gold ring.
· He gave her a diamond wedding ring on their wedding day.
· I noticed that she had an engagement ring on her finger.
(=a ring given as a sign of lasting love, especially one with stones all round it)
(=a ring that has a letter or symbol cut into a flat surface)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· I could hear the church bells ringing in the distance.
· He was ringing a big brass bell.
(=it rings loudly)· The bells rang out to celebrate the end of the war.
(=of a ladder)· I put my foot on the bottom rung and started to climb.
(=a large circular area where tricks are performed)
(=push the button)
To say it is the least bad system is hardly a ringing endorsement (=a statement showing strong support).· Jerry bought her a beautiful sapphire engagement ring.
A strange cry rang high into the night. Even as he spoke, Ivan was well aware of the hollow ring to his words. (=the part you put your foot on)· The first rung of the ladder was broken.
· Around three o’clock, the phone rang.
(=is heard)· Suddenly, two shots rang out.
(=phone to say you are not coming in to work because you are ill)· I could have called in sick, but I knew you needed this report.
(also a network of spies) (=a group of spies)· He was well informed through his network of spies.
· The telephone rang, but Tom didn’t answer it.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· These are usually made up of a central pit or cup, surrounded by one ring or concentric rings or spiral turns.· Spaced evenly from the bottom up, concentric rings of black crow feathers rise to the top of the cairn.· The other is a piece of reef shaped like a fungal bracket of concentric rings, or perhaps like a footprint cast.· The largest craters show, in addition to their rim walls and central peak structures, outer concentric rings of mountains.· It is built of large blocks of travertine stone and the arch has two concentric rings of radiating voussoirs.· One theory suggests that personality can be viewed as a series of concentric rings.
· He recently forked out more than £350,000 on a huge diamond ring as a token of his love.· She wore large gold earrings and a heavy strand of pearls, and on her right hand was a huge diamond ring.· Deronda calls on Mirah to ask her to marry him, laying his gloves and diamond ring on a table.· Ruby and diamond ring, $ 129.
· Just as the current crisis has a distinctly familiar ring to it, so too do the solutions being offered.· These and other questions have a familiar ring because versions of these same questions are posted in various places on the walls.· The indirect solutions for ecological appropriation have a more familiar land reform ring but are not without positive environmental implications.· We pull out some coins and drop them on to the counter, where they make, no doubt, a familiar ring.· If such a three-pronged assault on the ailing Soviet economy has a familiar ring to it, that is hardly surprising.· Charles's animated eyes widen to reveal familiar dramatic rings of white around the blue as we exchange a silent look.· Once a few have been mastered it is surprising how quickly the most ponderous sounding scientific name acquires a familiar ring.· Some findings will have a familiar ring in the West.
· The dull reflection came from a gold finger ring.· His skin was dark, dark brown, his head perfectly slick, his ear pierced by a tiny gold ring.· It included a huge shot of her Cartier diamond and white-gold engagement ring.· He poured himself another inch of whiskey, the gold rings on his fingers tapping the glass, restless percussion.· He wore a gold ring, engraved with the letter R - his Christmas present from Johanna.· His golden hair was parted down the middle, and he wore a gold ring on his right hand.· The gold wedding ring to complement it perfectly was made in her studio.· On the index finger of his left hand he wore a gold signet ring.
· But the famous Bongs! will have a hollow ring for millions of soccer fans anxiously waiting for news of their teams.· It resembles a hollow ring of land surrounded by scattered archipelagos.· The thought had a hollow ring to it.
· The inner ring itself could never quite understand her arrival there, and concluded finally that she made it through sheer cheek.· Ringway One was an inner ring road running largely through working-class areas of housing stress.· The inner ring is economically dependent on core Tyneside for the bulk of its employment opportunities.
· The tokens are swapped for Guinness T shirts, key rings, vouchers and customised prizes.· She rummaged in her handbag for the key on its wooden key ring and tried to fit it into the lock.· He had to fumble in it for some seconds before his fingers found the key ring.· Interestingly, the use of key rings is confined solely to the Roman period.· Sebastian Nocon got a huge key ring with the letter S on it from Fergie.· Other good features include a spare bulb in the tail cap and a useful key ring facility.
· The device clips to the outer ring of the drum cap, sealing the outlet.· These in turn merge gradually into dark circles and bright outer rings with no evidence of impact cratering.· The hind legs have to mark time while the forelegs cross over, making the outer ring of a wheel.· The largest craters show, in addition to their rim walls and central peak structures, outer concentric rings of mountains.· In the surrounding debris of apartment blocks more militia would be crouched, forming the outer defence ring of the beleaguered stronghold.· Any way you look at it, the beams miss the bullseye and hit the outer ring.· Vologsky took over control again, knowing that he must be within twenty miles of the outer warning ring around Alma-Ata.· The outer country ring would be the chief reception area for overcrowded London.
NOUN· On hearing a bell ring before the appearance of food the animals quickly came to associate that sound with feeding time.· Finally, the bell rings and kids burst joyfully out the door.· The bell rings and as I approach the front door I can see Mrs Marsh through the frosted glass.
· These days they can cost hundreds rather than thousands of pounds, and drug rings are known to be using them.· Who did they represent - a government, the Mafia, some drug ring?
· She had hoped his ideas lay in another direction, like an engagement ring.· The glitter of the rhinestones was answered by the glitter of the diamond in her engagement ring.· It included a huge shot of her Cartier diamond and white-gold engagement ring.· She is sometimes seen by his side but wears no engagement ring.· She was Tim's first choice when he set out to find the perfect engagement ring for the woman he loved.· A full guarantee comes with every Beaverbrooks purchase and a year's free insurance policy with your engagement ring.· He is the heavenly Lover's engagement ring given to us.
· According to Winston, men generally have a longer ring finger than index finger.· Dunne has a dislocated ring finger on his right hand.· So, do tomboyish girls, and footballers have very long ring fingers?· In November 1991, Jones suffered ligament and joint damage to his left ring finger in a dirt-bike accident.
· He threw down the knife, turned off the gas ring and stamped down the hall.· An analogy from control engineering would be a kettle on a gas ring.· In one corner is a gas ring, in another a table with some school books on it.· There is a gas ring in my room and the percolator is bubbling.· And once he had realized that ... To the left of the gas ring was a note.
· They are best used raw or cooked only briefly, and they make great onion rings.· The happy hour food menu includes hot wings, chicken quesadillas, onion rings and crab cakes, among others.· Serve garnished with the retained onion rings and the drained lemon rind.· Season with salt and serve with onion rings.· The golden, oversized onion rings are beauties.
· He had heard the phone ring but did not listen to what was said.· He let the phone ring twenty times, thirty, tried the line again, let it ring forty times.· If your phone rings at 2.15 a.m. you'd better hope that too.· Simply to imagine it is to defy credibility: A phone rings in a boarding house in Mobile, Alabama.· If the phone rings you know your dialer and modem are talking to each other properly.· The earlier the phone rings, the worse the news.· The phone rings and he retires to the office to attend to it.· The phone rings and you have to pick it up by the fourth ring or it rolls over to the message service.
· Pardue's aircraft had metal on the oil filter screens as well as part of a piston ring.
· All the good spots are close to the ring road.· I stayed with him in the heavy traffic round the ring road, skirting the city centre and out towards Bingley.· Access at the bottom of Tubwell Row to the ring road might have to be controlled by traffic lights.· Nine tenths of the Leicester ring road is finished and has been for some years.· She fills up with petrol on the ring road.· Back beside the ring road and the footbridge.· It is so obvious that they should all stay outside the ring road except for the bus station where they would all terminate.
· The dancer Fred Astaire was among those in modern times who have worn a signet ring on the right hand.· The signet rings were probably the prerogative of the rich, as they were often made of gold or silver.· On the index finger of his left hand he wore a gold signet ring.· She went into the hall and rested Johnny's signet ring on the little table there.· Schumacher fiddled energetically with his signet ring, and offered no further conversation beyond a snort of ridicule.· Such letters are sealed with the cardinal's own signet ring.· Johnny's signet ring was somewhere in the hall; there was no doubting it.· Glynn also had stolen from him a purse containing £22 and a gold signet ring.
· Secret files reveal an Oxford spy ring.· It suggests there was an Oxford spy ring in the 1930s which passed secrets to the Soviet Union.
· If you buy your engagement ring from them you will get a 10 percent discount on your wedding ring or rings.· She was fiddling self-consciously with her wedding ring, twisting it around below her knuckle.· She recognized her wedding ring but nothing else.· Yet a far stronger and more symbolic object remains - the wedding ring.· She had, after all, a wedding ring on her finger, so there must have been a Mr Salt.· And don't forget the 10 percent discount you will receive on further purchases when you choose your wedding ring at Beaverbrooks.· What looked like a wedding ring was wedged on her thumb.· The gold wedding ring to complement it perfectly was made in her studio.
VERB· He broke off at the ring of the doorbell.
· Later, she and Damian drove down into Central District to buy her engagement ring.· He ad wanted to buy her a ring, but neither of them were ready for that yet.· It was even possible now, with the prospect of the extra money, to think of buying her a ring.· As we hadn't bought our wedding rings, we had to make do with cheap imitations from the hospital gift shop.· Malc sold his trumpet to buy me a wedding ring.· He bought her a ring, with little seed pearls and a sapphire.· If you buy your engagement ring from them you will get a 10 percent discount on your wedding ring or rings.
· The ends of a helix can be joined to form a continuous ring or torus.· Form a ball with remaining dough, roll it out and continue forming circles and rings until all dough is used.· In the surrounding debris of apartment blocks more militia would be crouched, forming the outer defence ring of the beleaguered stronghold.· Rings are attached along these tapes to form horizontal rows of rings.· He descends down to the people, and they form a ring around him.· A scrum of security guards formed a protective ring around the boxer as they fought back the crowd.· Some of it escaped into space and the rest formed a ring of hot gas in orbit round the Earth.· As they paddle sedately forward across the water, they suddenly form a ring.
· Whatever your needs or circumstances give us a ring now!· Then he gave him a magic ring from his own finger.· Mr Evans gave it to me and he gave Carrie a ring.· Perhaps, he thought with sudden abandon, he should give Edith Mallory a ring this very moment and express his thanks.· Make a ring from the broken ring and the jewel. 30. Give the ring to Mum. 31.· They gave her dolls, rings, shawls, baskets and necklaces.· I suggested as gently as I could to Jean-Claude that he give Chaillot a ring.· All points in a given delay ring are indistinguishable from one another using this information alone.
· Lucker pulls the ring pull and extends it to him.· Somebody had pulled his gold wedding ring off his pudgy hand.
· He was a Gemini, complex and clever, a dual personality who could run rings round her with contemptuous ease.· Pepe runs a prostitution ring using street kids who sell maps to the homes of the stars between tricks.· Soon we were running a successful escape ring.· She ran rings round him, but he loved her all the same.· For sheer cleverness she could run rings around them all.· Who had run an escape ring.· Adams left the jewels at Niven's Hollywood mansion after being arrested for running a call-girl ring.· Fisher found a superb clip of Bernard running rings round pious Esther Rantzen in 1977.
· In his left ear he wore a small ring.· I stopped wearing my wedding ring.· The dancer Fred Astaire was among those in modern times who have worn a signet ring on the right hand.· The woman was wearing a wedding ring with diamonds circling a blue sapphire stone, Rodriguez said.· She is sometimes seen by his side but wears no engagement ring.· His golden hair was parted down the middle, and he wore a gold ring on his right hand.· I wore a beautiful ring, a love token made of sheer gold.· He wore a gold ring, engraved with the letter R - his Christmas present from Johanna.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► throw/toss your hat into the ring
1- Some findings will have a familiar ring in the West.
- The terrors which Mr Cash expresses about our future in the community have a familiar ring about them.
- These and other questions have a familiar ring because versions of these same questions are posted in various places on the walls.
- Each time the Congress met, which was roughly every six months, Boris Yeltsin ran rings around it.
- For sheer cleverness she could run rings around them all.
- He retired from the ring at 34.
- All points in a given delay ring are indistinguishable from one another using this information alone.
- Any reader wanting the right detector to suit his pocket and plenty of sound advice is welcome to give me a ring.
- Evil is devious, it is trying to turn Good against Good by making Frodo try to give the Ring away.
- Mr Evans gave it to me and he gave Carrie a ring.
- Perhaps, he thought with sudden abandon, he should give Edith Mallory a ring this very moment and express his thanks.
- Whatever your needs or circumstances give us a ring now!
- You then push the cable connector on to one side of the T-connector and give the lock ring a twist.
- Lies by their nature have the ring of truth.
- Some stories have a ring of truth, if a little exaggerated: They do fit the known biography.
- Thinkers, like the aforementioned, gained status because they suggest answers that have the ring of truth.
- At Police Headquarters alarm bells rang in from government munition dumps, military vehicle compounds, hi-tech weapon factories and sweet shops.
- Between them, in their flight from the mill, they'd set all the alarm bells ringing at the local sub-station.
- But alarm bells rang when Allison wrote back in December.
- Her flesh cried out to be closer, and, with the last vestiges of sanity, alarm bells rang.
- Maybe when they didn't phone home, the alarm bells rang.
- More precisely, one complaint from a parent actually appeared, but this was enough to set alarm bells ringing.
- Nor had any alarm bells rung about Thomas.
- The phone was ringing off the hook here all weekend.
jewellery a piece of jewellery that you wear on your finger: a diamond ring a plain silver ring → engagement ring at engagement(1), signet ring, wedding ring2circle a)an object in the shape of a circle: a rubber ring for children to go swimming with onion rings a key ring → napkin ring b)a circular line or markring around She left a dirty ring around the bath.ring round British English a ring round the moon c)a group of people or things arranged in a circlering of A ring of armed troops surrounded the building. The city was overlooked by a ring of high-rise buildings.3give somebody a ring British English informal to make a telephone call to someone: I’ll give you a ring later in the week.4bells the sound made by a bell or the act of making this sound: a ring at the doorbell5criminals a group of people who illegally control a business or criminal activity: Are you aware that a drugs ring is being operated in the club? Secret files reveal an Oxford spy ring.6have the/a ring of something if a statement or argument has a ring of truth, confidence etc, it seems as if it has this quality: His explanation has the ring of truth.7have a familiar ring if something has a familiar ring, you feel that you have heard it before: His voice had a strangely familiar ring.8run rings around somebody informal to be able to do something much better than someone else can: I’m sure you can run rings around him.9cooking British English one of the circular areas on top of a cooker that is heated by gas or electricity SYN burner American English: a gas ring10sport a)a small square area surrounded by ropes, where people box or wrestle → ringside b)the ring the sport of boxing: He retired from the ring at 34.11entertainment a large circular area surrounded by seats at a circusCOLLOCATIONSverbswear a ring· He wore a gold ring on his right hand.have a ring on· They saw I didn’t have a wedding ring on.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ringa gold/silver ring· She took off her gold ring.a diamond/sapphire etc ring· On her right hand was a huge diamond ring.a heavy ring· Her fingers were clustered with heavy rings.a plain ring· She wore a plain gold ring.a wedding ring· He gave her a diamond wedding ring on their wedding day.an engagement ring· I noticed that she had an engagement ring on her finger.an eternity ring (=a ring given as a sign of lasting love, especially one with stones all round it)a signet ring (=a ring that has a letter or symbol cut into a flat surface)ring1 nounring2 verbring3 verb
ringring2 /rɪŋ/ ●●● S1 W2 verb (past tense rang /ræŋ/, past participle rung /rʌŋ/) VERB TABLE
ring
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | ring |
| he, she, it | rings | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | rang |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have rung |
| he, she, it | has rung | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had rung |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will ring |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have rung |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am ringing |
| he, she, it | is ringing | |
| you, we, they | are ringing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was ringing |
| you, we, they | were ringing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been ringing |
| he, she, it | has been ringing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been ringing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be ringing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been ringing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A burglar alarm was ringing further along the road.
- All the students were out of their seats as soon as the bell rang.
- At that moment, the door bell rang.
- Her eyes were ringed with heavy black liner.
- If you tap something made of good glass, it should keep ringing for quite a long time.
- My ears were still ringing hours after the concert.
- She was about to go out when the phone rang.
- The cathedral rang with the amazing voices of the choir.
- The phone's ringing.
- Thousands of protesters ringed the embassy.
- We heard them ringing the temple bell.
- Around midnight, the phone rang.
- He was so loud my ears rang.
- I have rung the world from these boxes and feel a great affection and gratitude towards them.
- I wondered when you were going to ring.
- The phone rang in the kitchen.
- The telephone would ring less frequently, although the girls might be more frequently on the telephone.
THESAURUS
to speak to someone by telephone. Phoneis more common in British English than American English: · I’ll phone you tomorrow.
to phone someone. Call is used in both British and American English: · One of the neighbors called the police.· Call me later.
British English spoken to phone someone. Ring is more informal than phone or call: · I can ring her at the office tomorrow.
(also give somebody a ring) spoken to phone someone: · If you ever come to Seattle, give me a call.· I’ll give the hospital a ring and see how he is.
formal to phone someone: · Angry listeners telephoned the BBC to complain.
trademark to make a telephone call using special software that allows you to make calls over the Internet: · I Skyped her last night and we spoke for hours.
Longman Language Activatorto be surrounded by something if someone or something is surrounded by people or things, those people or things are around them on every side: · The tops of the hills were surrounded by clouds.· Jill sat on the floor surrounded by boxes.
if something is ringed by things, those things form a circle around it: · Hoover Dam is ringed by snow-capped mountains that reach high above the desert plain.· Fifteen minutes after the explosion, the embassy was ringed by police officers and armed guards.
if something that you are looking at is framed by something, you see it within the borders of that thing: · I could see the church tower framed by the windows.· Her small face was framed by a mass of red hair
to form a wall or covering around something that keeps it separate from everything outside it: · The fence enclosing the prison compound is constantly patrolled by armed guards.be enclosed by something: · The garden was completely enclosed by a high wall.· The fish live in a shallow tropical lagoon, which is enclosed by a coral reef.be enclosed in something: · Jerry had to spend two months enclosed in a huge plastic bubble, to prevent him from catching germs from other children.
to remember something with difficulty if you vaguely remember something, you can remember it slightly but not all the details are clear: · She still vaguely remembered her father, a distant figure who was barely ever there.vaguely remember that: · I do vaguely remember, now that Kerry mentions it, that Pete was at the party.vaguely remember what/how/who etc: · Bob, who'd been a vet in the army, vaguely remembered how to use a tourniquet.vaguely remember doing something: · He vaguely remembered meeting her in a club the night of the concert.
to be able to remember that something happened but not be able to remember the details clearly, especially because you did not notice the details at the time: · I do sort of remember meeting him, but I have only a hazy recollection.have a hazy/vague recollection of: · Davis claims he has only a vague recollection of the rape.have a hazy/vague recollection of doing something: · The next day she had a hazy recollection of getting drunk and dancing in a fountain.
if a name or word is on the tip of your tongue , you usually know it but have difficulty remembering it at the present moment: · His name's on the tip of my tongue. I'll think of it in a minute.· What was that place where they'd had dinner? It was on the tip of her tongue.
if something, especially a name, rings a bell , you remember that you have seen or heard it before but you are now not sure of the details: · The name rings a bell, but I can't place it at the moment.ring a bell with: · "Gentle Ben's Brewing Company" will ring a bell with anyone who has lived in Arizona.
to speak to someone by telephone · To find out more, call 555-1972.· Can you call Becky before six?· She called about twenty minutes ago.call for · I'll call for a taxi now.call roundBritish /around American (=call several people or organizations, especially to get information) · I called round to see if anyone knew where Tom was.· His secretary started calling around to find out where the commission was meeting.
also ring British · I'll phone you if there's any news.· Shall I ring Sarah to see if she wants to come out with us?· Did anyone ring while I was out?· Jill phoned to tell you she'll see you tonight.phone for · Let's phone for a pizza tonight.phone/ring round British (=telephone several people or organizations, especially to get information) · You'd better ring round some travel agents to get some prices.
to speak to someone by telephone . Telephone is more formal than phone or call , and is used especially in writing: · About five o'clock, a woman telephoned Bernstein.· For details of your nearest tourist office telephone 4127.· Mr Dodd telephoned this morning.telephone for: · Write or telephone for more information.
British /call up American to speak to someone by telephone, especially in order to have a friendly conversation with them or to ask for information: · Your uncle rang up about an hour ago.· "I don't know what time the last train is." "Well, phone up and find out."ring/call/phone up somebody: · Why don't you call up Jackie and apologize?· She uses the office phone to phone up her friends in Sweden.ring/call/phone somebody up: · John called him up to make sure of the date of the graduation ceremony.· I might phone him up at home.
also give somebody a ring British spoken to speak to someone by telephone - use this especially when you are telling someone that you will telephone them, or when you are asking them to telephone: · Just give me a call if you need anything.· Why don't I give you a ring later and find out when you'll be free?
to use the telephone to speak to someone: · Diana made a quick call to Munich before the meeting.· There's a pay phone in the lobby if you need to make a telephone call.· Limit the number of personal phone calls you make at work.
to be speaking to someone on the telephone: · Rosie's still on the phone.· There's someone on the phone for you.be on the phone to: · He was on the phone to a friend when he noticed the smoke.be on the phone with: · How long are workers on the phone with customers?talk/speak on the phone: · Marie and I talk on the phone at least once a week.have somebody on the phone (=to have someone calling you): · Mr Rogers, I have Anita Payne on the phone for you.
informal also give somebody a bell British informal to telephone someone: · I'll give Larry a buzz. Maybe he'll want to go too.· Can you give Mary a bell? She rang earlier.· Give me a ring if you decide you can come.
to succeed in reaching someone by telephone: · I tried calling my parents, but I couldn't get through.get through to: · Did you get through to Mr McWhirter?
to end a telephone call to finish a telephone conversation or stop it before it has finished by putting down the receiver (=the part of a telephone you speak into): · If a caller is rude, just hang up.hang up the phone/receiver: · I said I'd be right there. I hung up the phone and grabbed my purse and car keys.hang up on somebody (=put the telephone down while someone is still talking): · Mitchell was furious and hung up on him.
especially British to put down the receiver (=the part of a telephone you speak into) after you have finished talking to someone: · There was a long pause, and she was about to put the phone down when the voice came back again.
to put the telephone down while someone is still speaking to you, because you are angry: · Call her. The worst thing she could do is slam down the phone.slam the phone down/slam down the phone on: · He tried to talk to her, but she slammed the phone down on him.
if you get cut off or get disconnected when you are making a telephone call, the telephone suddenly stops working in the middle of your conversation and you cannot continue: · We got cut off in the middle of the conversation.· I don't know what happened, we just got disconnected.
British to end a telephone call: · I suppose I'd better ring off now -- we've been on the phone for over an hour.
when what someone says is not true: it's/that's not true · "No one ever helps me." "That's not true."· You're believing what Mike's saying and it's just not true, he doesn't have a clue what's happening.it is not true that · It is not true that all women want to go out to work.
not true. Untrue is more formal than not true: · The report has proven this information to be untrue.it is untrue that: · It is untrue that the college broke the terms of the contract.completely/totally/absolutely/simply untrue: · The interviewer made it sound like I thought it was okay to hit a woman, which is totally untrue.
not true or not correct: · He gave a false name and address to the police.· The article gives a totally false impression of life in Russia today.· Decide whether these statements are true or false.· Her claims of being able to recall past lives were later proved false.
if what someone says or believes is happening is not the case , it is not happening and what they say or believe is not true: · Recent reports suggest that violent crime is increasing, but this is simply not the case.· People think if kids are aware of a particular brand or ad campaign, they'll buy the product, but that's not the case.
if there is no truth in or to something that has been said or written, it is completely untrue: · There is no truth in the rumour that Collins and his wife are about to divorce.· Robinson says there is no truth to the reports that he is ready to resign.
misleading information or statements make people believe something that is not true, especially by not giving them all the facts: · The holiday brochure is deliberately misleading, because the hotels it shows are not the ones you actually stay in.· These statistics give a misleading impression of what is happening to the economy.
if an explanation, story etc does not ring true , it does not seem to be true even though you are not quite sure why you think it is untrue: · There was something odd about her story, something that didn't ring true.· One of the jurors said that Hill's explanation just didn't ring true.
: trumped-up charge/accusation/case etc something someone says, a legal case etc that is false and has been invented, especially in order to harm someone else for political purposes: · He had been arrested by the secret police on trumped-up charges of spying.· Zola believed that the case against Dreyfus was trumped-up and utterly false.
making you realize that something bad could happen: warn somebody (that) · Something warned Lucy that she must stop him.· The bleached bones of cattle warn the traveler how hot it can be in Death Valley.warn of · Dark clouds warned of the approaching storm.
if an event or fact is a warning , it shows that something bad could happen or is going to happen: · The story of the Titanic is a warning to anyone who trusts too much in their technology.· The only warning was a low rumbling sound.be a warning of: · Pain in the shoulder and arm can be a warning of a heart attack.
if something sets (the) alarm bells ringing it makes you realize that something seriously wrong or very dangerous is happening: · There were no lights on when I got home. That immediately set alarm bells ringing.· A brief study of the company's accounts set the alarm bells ringing -- there was no trace of the $56 million loan.
making you think that something bad has happened or is likely to happen soon: · Another wave crashed onto the deck and the mast made an ominous creaking sound.· Katy answered the phone. There was an ominous silence.something sounds ominous: · My manager asked for an appointment at nine o'clock on a Monday morning: it sounded ominous.
intended to or likely to warn you that something bad will happen if you continue to do something or do not do something: · Aunt Lou shot a warning glance at father just as he was about to speak.· He grabbed her pistol and fired a warning shot. The intruder ran back out into the hall. · From the trees there came a warning screech and the whole flock took to the air.
: cautionary tale/note something that provides a warning of something bad that could happen or a warning against particular actions or behaviour: · The rise and fall of this company is a cautionary tale for anyone investing in the property market.· The director ended her speech on a cautionary note, when she said that next year would be even harder than this year.
WORD SETSablaze, adjectiveacoustic, adjectiveacoustics, nounaglow, adjectivebaa, verbbabble, verbbabble, nounbabel, nounbaby talk, nounbackfire, verbbackground, nounbang, nounbang, verbbang, interjectionbark, verbbark, nounbattle cry, nounbay, verbbeat, verbbeat, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounblare, verbblast, nounbleat, verbbleep, nounbleep, verbblip, nounbong, nounboom, nounboom, verbbowwow, interjectionbrassy, adjectivebray, verbbrazen, adjectivebreathy, adjectivebubble, verbbump, nounchatter, verbchatter, nounclink, verbclink, nouncrack, verbcrack, nouncrackle, verbcrackling, nouncrash, verbcrash, nouncreak, verbcreaky, adjectivecroak, verbcroak, nouncrow, nouncrow, verbcrunch, nouncrunch, verbding-dong, noundiscord, noundiscordant, adjectivedrone, verbdrone, noundrown, verbdrum, verbdrumbeat, noundrumming, noundull, adjectiveecho, verbecho, nounfizz, verbflat, adjectivefootfall, nounfootstep, nounfusillade, noungrinding, adjectivegroan, verbgroan, noungrunt, verbgrunt, nounguffaw, verbgunshot, nounguttural, adjectivehigh, adjectivehigh, adverbhiss, verbindistinct, adjectiveirregular, adjectivelow, verbmarbled, adjectivematching, adjectivemellow, adjectivemelodic, adjectivemelodious, adjectivemetallic, adjectivemoan, verbmoan, nounmodulate, verbmonotone, nounmoo, verbmurmur, verbmurmur, nounmusical, adjectivemusically, adverbmute, verbnasal, adjectivenoise, nounoink, interjectionoof, interjectionpatter, verbpatter, nounpeal, nounpeal, verbpenetrating, adjectivepercussion, nounpsychedelic, adjectivepulse, nounputter, verbquack, verbquack, nounquaver, nounracket, nounrasp, verbrasp, nounraspberry, nounrat-a-tat, nounrattle, nounraucous, adjectivereedy, adjectivereport, nounresonance, nounresonant, adjectiveresonate, verbresonator, nounresound, verbresounding, adjectivereverberate, verbreverberation, nounrich, adjectivering, nounring, verbringing, adjectiveripple, verbripple, nounroar, nounroaring, adjectiveroll, verbrough, adjectiverustle, verbrustle, nounscratch, verbscratch, nounscream, verbscream, nounscrunch, verbsmoky, adjectivesnarl, verbsoft, adjectivesoft-spoken, adjectivesonorous, adjectivesotto voce, adverbsplosh, verbsweet, adjectiveswoosh, verbtick-tock, nountinny, adjectivetonal, adjectivevivid, adjectivevowel, nounwail, verbweak, adjectivewhack, nounwham, interjectionwhine, verbwhinny, verbwhirr, verbwhistle, verbwhistle, nounyelp, nounyowl, verbzoom, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He rang in sick (=telephoned to say he was ill) every morning for a week.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES To say it is the least bad system is hardly a ringing endorsement (=a statement showing strong support). A strange cry rang high into the night. Even as he spoke, Ivan was well aware of the hollow ring to his words.
He rang in sick (=telephoned to say he was ill) every morning for a week.· I could hear the church bells ringing in the distance.
· He was ringing a big brass bell.
(=it rings loudly)· The bells rang out to celebrate the end of the war.
(=of a ladder)· I put my foot on the bottom rung and started to climb.
(=a large circular area where tricks are performed)
(=push the button)
To say it is the least bad system is hardly a ringing endorsement (=a statement showing strong support).· Jerry bought her a beautiful sapphire engagement ring.
A strange cry rang high into the night. Even as he spoke, Ivan was well aware of the hollow ring to his words. (=the part you put your foot on)· The first rung of the ladder was broken.
· Around three o’clock, the phone rang.
(=is heard)· Suddenly, two shots rang out.
(=phone to say you are not coming in to work because you are ill)· I could have called in sick, but I knew you needed this report.
(also a network of spies) (=a group of spies)· He was well informed through his network of spies.
· The telephone rang, but Tom didn’t answer it.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· I've rung around the place for you.· It rang around four o'clock and woke us up.
· Would ring back. 9.26: Telephone call to Finance Section.· They should ask if the timing of the call is inconvenient and offer to ring back if not.· Meanwhile at home on my answering machine a message from New Zealand: please ring back.· She would look for their gloves, would ring back if she found them.· If it is all right please ask him to ring back at lunchtime when we will be in the House.· And then put the phone down, and waited for us to ring back to find out what she was demanding.· Brian told her that Esther had phoned and wanted her to ring back.· I rang back to make sure he hadn't fainted!
· He had just remembered where he'd heard the phrase with which Crepi had rung off.· She did not enlighten him, rang off and warned Ayling the police were going to question him.· A heart attack, she said, and rang off before he could ask questions.· When he demanded who Blanche was, and why she was phoning so late, she rang off.· Just as she had put off ringing Livingstone until it was too late, so she procrastinated with regard to contacting Gwen.· I got to the phone before whoever was calling rang off.· Michele thanked her and rang off.· Well, I said the usual pompous things but I had a good laugh when she rang off.
· The single chime of a church clock rang out suddenly in the darkness.· For now... there rang out the voice of Abraham Lincoln calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers for three months.· A loud alarm bell rang out soundly and he awoke from a trance.· Screams rang out in some hallways when the lights snapped off.· No doubt if she had been less absorbed, she would have heard the footsteps ring out into the frosty night behind her.· Shots ring out, the country is shocked, aroused.· Screams rang out from the galleries, where spectators had been gazing down instead of hiding.· And then, with the sun on her, she lurched forward as a shot rang out from below.
· Please ring me and I will explain which numbers you should use.· Meanwhile at home on my answering machine a message from New Zealand: please ring back.· For more about these courses, please ring Karen Fox on.· If anyone would like more details please ring on.· If you have any problems or complaints, please ring your local Customer Care Unit.· Please ring me at the above number and I will meet you in Paris to escort you to the hospital.· If you feel that you want to discuss a quality assurance issue at short notice, please ring your systems verifier.
· Somebody thought of it at an editorial conference, and Muggins here had to ring round all these celebrities to get comments.· First of all, she rang round her contacts in journalism.
NOUN· The owners of this modern kitchen preferred a wood appearance and so they rang the changes.· To ring the changes, hair was sprayed at the roots and lightly backcombed for an alternative look.· It's a stunning dress but it's meant for a woman with lots of clothes to ring the changes.· That's because we haven't published it yet ... Yep, it's time to ring the changes.· You should choose a variety of foods and ring the changes with meals.· Slicked scrunched or back-combed, you can ring the changes with these inspiring styles.· To ring the changes, try orange or lime-flavoured jellies for the cheesecake.· With a good group ring the changes - try for different effects with new faces at the front.
· For a full product information pack please circle the reader service number or ring our technical department on.· But there was no answer from the number he rang.· We have a daytime telephone number to ring for further details.· She offered me a number I could ring in Chicago to make a claim for making a call to Chicago.· He gave me a number to ring in London.· Your calls are free of course and the number to ring is oh five hundred four oh four treble zero.
· Our head of bureaux suggested they ring the Foreign Office.· They rang from the duty office to break the news to me just after nine.· He reached for the phone and rang the London office.· She rang his office, and then panicked at the secretary's voice, and put the receiver down without speaking.· I rang up the ticket office but just got a recorded message.· At nine o'clock the next morning Gerald rang his office to say he would not be in to work that day.· A telephone rang in an outer office.· Before shaving, he rang his office and spoke to the woman police constable who acted as his secretary.
· I'd been asleep for a mere four hours after my run-in with Jackson when the phone rang insistently.· When I got to my door I heard the phone ringing, but by the time I was inside it had stopped.· As she opened the front door the phone began to ring and she rushed to answer it.· M., while he was showering, the phone rang.· On impulse I picked up the phone and rang her, hoping I still had the right number.· All those who knew Eaton well expect the door to open or the phone to ring.· The phone rang nine minutes later.· And then early one morning, midway through the fortnight, the phone in our apartment rang.
· My friend in Holborn rang a friend who rang the Chelsea police and found they were taking the accusation very seriously.· A police spokesman said yesterday some dialled 999 while others rang Darlington police station direct.· She could have lifted it off the hook, she could have rung the police, except that fear had immobilised her.· It is hardly likely that a vicious thug will wait politely while we ring the police.· You saw that they were dead and rang for the police.· Mr McGowan reportedly rang the police at least four times, the last time a week before his death.· She got as far as a seaside guest-house before ringing the police and confessing what she had done.
· As three more shots rang out, the push-chair blew apart.· The shots rang out just after Combs and his entourage walked past a large circular bar in the center of the club.· Suddenly shots rang out and I realized with fright that Janotte was shooting at us.· Twenty shots rang out, 11 ripping through Tatum.· They stood hand in hand, breathing heavily from their exertions, when two shots rang out.· Four blocks from home, shots rang out and their crumpled bodies collapsed to the ground.· It was near dawn when the shots stopped ringing through the forest.
· In the next room along, a telephone was ringing.· A few moments later the telephone rang.· She was waiting for him to come back when the telephone rang.· On the table in the front of the room was a telephone, which rang whenever the bond market went berserk.· As she opened her door the telephone was ringing.· The telephone rang again and both women hurried toward it, jostling each other in the doorway.· The following day the telephone rang.· Eunice Bonifante was in the bathroom when the telephone rang.
· Better end it now, a warning voice rang deep inside her brain.· Her voice rang, playful yet deeper than he would have expected.· Their voices rang instead of speaking.· Her belief gave her hope; her sweet warm voice rang out the thanks that follow the baptism.· Their voices ring out cheerfully from the uncluttered surfaces.· The voice of the auctioneer rang out, hushing the expectant crowd.
· Seized for a moment by the power of prophesy, Caledor spoke words that would ring down the ages.· The words ring in my ears.· The words rang flat when she fastened back the shutters.· His words were ringing in her ears now although they had had little impact before.
VERB· No doubt if she had been less absorbed, she would have heard the footsteps ring out into the frosty night behind her.· When I got to my door I heard the phone ringing, but by the time I was inside it had stopped.· She heard distant bells ringing and the strange silence of the streets.· The group passed us, and shortly we heard them ringing the temple bell.· The window was open at the top and I could hear the church bells ringing in the distance.· In my mind I heard the phone ringing.· But I was writing, usually, and just plagued to hear him ring.· Smack. 2 Primo hears the phone ringing as he climbs the last flight of stairs.
· If the adviser wants you to make out a cheque to him, the alarm bells should start ringing.· But two days into the vacation the phone started ringing and he started covering pages of his little yellow notepad.· Broomhead heard warning bells starting to ring in his head.· She told me to hit the streets with the canvas bag and start ringing doorbells the instant school was out next day.· In Britain, at least, alarm bells have started to ring.· Travelers to Prague may find the comparison with Paris starting to ring all too true when it comes to hotel prices.· He smiled grimly and two minutes later his briefcase started ringing.· Miguel ran and ran until the bells started ringing again.
· Summerchild taps on the hardboard divisions to demonstrate their solidity and stops at once when they ring hollow.· It was near dawn when the shots stopped ringing through the forest.· I guess that's what stops me ringing.· The phone stopped ringing and the clock ticked then the phone started again and the clock stopped.· When the bells stop ringing you must plan your next move.· When the phone stopped ringing, Tom picked it up and called the Inghilterra.· My telephone has not stopped ringing with colleagues accusing me of changing my allegiance and forsaking my birthright.· He took his time getting to it, half hoping it would stop ringing before he answered.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► ring in the New Year► ring out the Old Year► ring something ↔ upPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► throw/toss your hat into the ring
1bell a)[intransitive, transitive] to make a bell make a sound, especially to call someone’s attention to you or to call someone to help you: - His assurances that things will change rang hollow.
- Apart from a bit of woodworm, the beam seemed solid enough, but the panel rang hollow.
- But its claim to have performed better than the Communist party did in 1950 rings hollow.
- But once the events began, his image rang hollow for some.
- Such events will ring hollow if they are not markers for some-thing larger and deeper that is going on in the school.
- Summerchild taps on the hardboard divisions to demonstrate their solidity and stops at once when they ring hollow.
- The Republicans put on an intimidating show, as they always intended, but it somehow rang hollow.
- Their footsteps rang hollow in the register office like a bad comic going off stage.
- These arguments ring hollow because they misunderstand the mode of responsibility in question.
- My father's discouraging words still ring in my ears.
- And with those echoes ringing in my ears I booked up my day - and contemplated my fate.
- His reply astounded me, and will ring in my ears for eternity.
- In the end, the men returned with the praises of the generals ringing in their ears.
- Lucy's advice rang in her ears.
- The noise still rang in his ears.
- The triumph of their compromise still rang in their ears.
- The words ring in my ears.
- There was a ringing in his ears.
- "Gentle Ben's Brewing Company" will ring a bell with anyone who has lived in Arizona.
- Does the name Bill Buckner ring a bell?
- The name rings a bell, but I can't place it at the moment.
- At eight sharp the duty orderly rang a bell.
- But the name Woodall rings a bell.
- Does the name Se Ri Pak ring a bell?
- I knew it rang a bell somewhere.
- She went in out of the heat to piped-in music and little ringing bells.
- To readers of this column does the name Rosenstein ring a bell?
- None of her explanations rang true.
- One of the jurors said that Hill's explanation just didn't ring true.
- There was something odd about her story, something that didn't ring true.
- But this would only be a story, and would not ring true.
- Frankly, it just does not ring true.
- Something does not ring true ... but what can we do?
- Stories that she lightheartedly tipped him off his surfboard do not ring true of Diana who was totally in awe of him.
- It's a stunning dress but it's meant for a woman with lots of clothes to ring the changes.
- Slicked scrunched or back-combed, you can ring the changes with these inspiring styles.
- That's because we haven't published it yet ... Yep, it's time to ring the changes.
- The owners of this modern kitchen preferred a wood appearance and so they rang the changes.
- To ring the changes, hair was sprayed at the roots and lightly backcombed for an alternative look.
- To ring the changes, try orange or lime-flavoured jellies for the cheesecake.
- With a good group ring the changes - try for different effects with new faces at the front.
- You should choose a variety of foods and ring the changes with meals.
- At Police Headquarters alarm bells rang in from government munition dumps, military vehicle compounds, hi-tech weapon factories and sweet shops.
- Between them, in their flight from the mill, they'd set all the alarm bells ringing at the local sub-station.
- But alarm bells rang when Allison wrote back in December.
- Her flesh cried out to be closer, and, with the last vestiges of sanity, alarm bells rang.
- Maybe when they didn't phone home, the alarm bells rang.
- More precisely, one complaint from a parent actually appeared, but this was enough to set alarm bells ringing.
- Nor had any alarm bells rung about Thomas.
- The phone was ringing off the hook here all weekend.
I rang the doorbell but no one came.ring for The sign said, ‘Ring for service’. Instead of ringing for the maid, she made the tea herself. b)[intransitive] if a bell rings, it makes a noise: The bell rang for the end of break.2telephone a)[intransitive, transitive] British English to make a telephone call to someone SYN call, phone: I was going to ring you but I don’t have your number.ring for Sally rang for a taxi. b)[intransitive] if a telephone rings, it makes a sound to show that someone is telephoning you: The phone hasn’t stopped ringing all day.► see thesaurus at phone3sounds [intransitive] a)if your ears ring, they make a continuous sound that only you can hear, after you have been somewhere very noisy or heard a loud sound: The explosion made our ears ring. b)literary if a place rings with a sound, it is full of that soundring with The whole room rang with their laughter.4ring a bell informal if something rings a bell, it reminds you of something, but you cannot remember exactly what it is: Her name rings a bell but I can’t remember her face.5not ring true if something does not ring true, you do not believe it, even though you are not sure why: It was a possible explanation, but it didn’t quite ring true.6ring the changes British English to make changes to something, not because it needs changing but just in order to make it more interesting, more attractive etc: Choose a variety of foods and ring the changes with meals.7ring hollow if something that someone says rings hollow, you do not feel that it is true or sincere: Assurances that things have changed ring hollow in many ears.8ring in your ears if a sound or remark rings in your ears, you continue to remember it very clearly, exactly as it sounded, after it has finished: He left Washington with the president’s praises ringing in his ears.GRAMMARRing belongs to a group of verbs where the same noun can be the subject of the verb or its object.• You can say: · The teacher rang the bell. In this sentence, ‘the bell’ is the object of ring.• You can say: · The bell rang. In this sentence, ‘the bell’ is the subject of ring.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSring (somebody) back phrasal verb British English to telephone someone again, or to telephone someone because you were not available when they telephoned you SYN call (somebody) back: I’ll ring back as soon as I find out anything. John rang, and he wants you to ring him back.ring in phrasal verb1British English to telephone the place where you work: Jane’s rung in to say she’ll be late. He rang in sick (=telephoned to say he was ill) every morning for a week.2ring in the New Year to celebrate the beginning of the New Yearring off phrasal verb British English to end a telephone call: He rang off without giving his name.ring out phrasal verb1a voice, bell etc that rings out is loud and clear: The sound of a shot rang out.2ring out the Old Year to celebrate the end of the yearring round (somebody) phrasal verb British English to make telephone calls to a group of people, in order to organize something, find out information etc: I’ll ring round to see whether anyone’s interested in coming with us. She rang round all the agencies.ring up phrasal verb1British English to telephone someone SYN call (somebody) upring somebody ↔ up I’ll ring the manager up tomorrow. I rang up and made an appointment.2ring something ↔ up to press buttons on a cash register to record how much money is being put inside: The cashier rang up £300 by mistake.ring1 nounring2 verbring3 verb
ringring3 verb (past tense and past participle ringed) [transitive] VERB TABLE
ring
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | ring |
| he, she, it | rings | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | rang |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have rung |
| he, she, it | has rung | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had rung |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will ring |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have rung |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am ringing |
| he, she, it | is ringing | |
| you, we, they | are ringing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was ringing |
| you, we, they | were ringing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been ringing |
| he, she, it | has been ringing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been ringing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be ringing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been ringing |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Around midnight, the phone rang.
- He was so loud my ears rang.
- I have rung the world from these boxes and feel a great affection and gratitude towards them.
- The phone rang in the kitchen.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES To say it is the least bad system is hardly a ringing endorsement (=a statement showing strong support). A strange cry rang high into the night. Even as he spoke, Ivan was well aware of the hollow ring to his words.
· I could hear the church bells ringing in the distance.
· He was ringing a big brass bell.
(=it rings loudly)· The bells rang out to celebrate the end of the war.
(=of a ladder)· I put my foot on the bottom rung and started to climb.
(=a large circular area where tricks are performed)
(=push the button)
To say it is the least bad system is hardly a ringing endorsement (=a statement showing strong support).· Jerry bought her a beautiful sapphire engagement ring.
A strange cry rang high into the night. Even as he spoke, Ivan was well aware of the hollow ring to his words. (=the part you put your foot on)· The first rung of the ladder was broken.
· Around three o’clock, the phone rang.
(=is heard)· Suddenly, two shots rang out.
(=phone to say you are not coming in to work because you are ill)· I could have called in sick, but I knew you needed this report.
(also a network of spies) (=a group of spies)· He was well informed through his network of spies.
· The telephone rang, but Tom didn’t answer it.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► throw/toss your hat into the ring
1to surround something: - At Police Headquarters alarm bells rang in from government munition dumps, military vehicle compounds, hi-tech weapon factories and sweet shops.
- Between them, in their flight from the mill, they'd set all the alarm bells ringing at the local sub-station.
- But alarm bells rang when Allison wrote back in December.
- Her flesh cried out to be closer, and, with the last vestiges of sanity, alarm bells rang.
- Maybe when they didn't phone home, the alarm bells rang.
- More precisely, one complaint from a parent actually appeared, but this was enough to set alarm bells ringing.
- Nor had any alarm bells rung about Thomas.
- The phone was ringing off the hook here all weekend.
Thousands of people ringed the court building to demand the release of Mr Cox.be ringed with something Her eyes were ringed with stiff black lashes.2 British English to draw a circular mark around something SYN circle: Ring the mistakes in red.