ring

noun

UK /rɪŋ/

Word Forms

singular	ring
plural	rings

1
countable a piece of jewellery in the form of a circle that you wear on a finger
a gold ring
ring on:
She had a ring on every finger.
Synonyms and related words
Types of jewellery
anklet
band
bangle
1. 1a
  an object in the shape of a circle
  onion rings
  curtain rings
  Synonyms and related words
  Rounded and circular shapes
  ball
  balloon
  band
2. 1b
  a line or shape that forms a ring
  She had black rings round her eyes from tiredness.
  Synonyms and related words
  Rounded and circular shapes
  ball
  balloon
  band
3. 1c
  a piece of metal with a number on it that is put around the leg of a bird so that you can recognize it again later
  Synonyms and related words
  Bird watching and ornithology
  bird-watching
  hide
  ornithologist
4. 1d
  a group of people or things that form a ring
  ring of:
  He glanced round the ring of faces waiting for him to speak.
  in a ring (=arranged in the shape of the edge of a circle):
  They sat in a ring around the fire.
  Synonyms and related words
  People and things arranged in a particular way
  chain
  circle
  formation
See alsoengagement ring
See alsowedding ring
2
countable a sound produced by a phone when someone calls you
He answered on the first ring.
Synonyms and related words
Using a telephone
answer
busy
call
3
countable Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬the sound that a bell produces
He was interrupted by the ring of the doorbell.
Synonyms and related words
Ringing sounds
bell
bong
chime
1. 3a
  countable an act of making a bell produce a sound
  Impatiently she gave another ring of the doorbell.
  Synonyms and related words
  Bells and bell parts
  bell
  bell pull
  bell push
2. 3b
  singular a sound like a bell
  The ring of his hammer echoed round the square.
  Synonyms and related words
  Ringing sounds
  bell
  bong
  chime
4
countable a raised square area surrounded by ropes where people take part in boxing or wrestling
Synonyms and related words
Boxing and wrestling
arm-wrestling
bantamweight
bare-knuckle
1. 4a
  
  the ring
  the sport of boxing or wrestling
  Hale today announced his retirement from the ring.
  Synonyms and related words
  Boxing and wrestling
  arm-wrestling
  bantamweight
  bare-knuckle
2. 4b
  an area surrounded by seats at a circus
  Synonyms and related words
  At the circus, amusement park or fairground
  big dipper
  big top
  big wheel
5
countable a flat circle heated by gas or electricity on the top of a cooker
Synonyms and related words
Machines and equipment used for cooking
Aga
barbecue
barbie
6
countable a group of people involved in an activity, especially an illegal one
The officer was suspected of involvement in an international drugs ring.
Synonyms and related words
Groups of people with shared interests or aims
association
commission
organization
7
singular a particular quality that something such as a statement seems to have
Her account has a ring of authenticity about it.
have a ring of truth:
His version of events had a ring of truth.
have a familiar ring:
This story may have a familiar ring to it.
Synonyms and related words
Features and qualities
feature
quality
factor
8
no ring no bring
a policy of only allowing guests who are engaged or married to bring their partners with them
It’s been reported that Pippa is enforcing a ‘no ring, no bring’ policy at her wedding.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 23/05/2017
Open Dictionary - May2017

phrases

give someone a ring

ring

noun

US /rɪŋ/

Word Forms

singular	ring
plural	rings

1
countable a piece of jewelry in the form of a circle that you wear on a finger
a gold ring
ring on:
She had a ring on every finger.
Synonyms and related words
Types of jewelry
anklet
band
bangle
1. 1a
  an object in the shape of a circle
  onion rings
  curtain rings
  Synonyms and related words
  Rounded and circular shapes
  ball
  balloon
  band
2. 1b
  a line or shape that forms a ring
  She had dark rings under her eyes from tiredness.
  Synonyms and related words
  Rounded and circular shapes
  ball
  balloon
  band
3. 1c
  a group of people or things that form a ring
  ring of:
  He glanced around the ring of faces waiting for him to speak.
  in a ring (=arranged in the shape of the edge of a circle):
  They sat in a ring around the fire.
  Synonyms and related words
  People and things arranged in a particular way
  chain
  circle
  formation
See alsoengagement ring
See alsowedding ring
2
countable Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬the sound that a bell produces
He was interrupted by the ring of the timer bell.
Synonyms and related words
Ringing sounds
bell
bong
chime
1. 2a
  countable an act of making a bell produce a sound
  Impatiently she gave the doorbell another ring.
  Synonyms and related words
  Bells and bell parts
  bell
  bell pull
  chimes
2. 2b
  singular a sound like a bell
  The ring of his hammer echoed round the square.
  Synonyms and related words
  Ringing sounds
  bell
  bong
  chime
3
countable a raised square area surrounded by ropes where people take part in boxing or wrestling
Synonyms and related words
Boxing and wrestling
arm-wrestling
bantamweight
bare-knuckle
1. 3a
  
  the ring
  the sport of boxing or wrestling
  Dempsey today announced his retirement from the ring.
  Synonyms and related words
  Boxing and wrestling
  arm-wrestling
  bantamweight
  bare-knuckle
2. 3b
  an area surrounded by seats at a circus
  Synonyms and related words
  At the circus, amusement park or fairground
  big top
  big wheel
  bumper car
4
countable a group of people involved in an activity, especially an illegal one
The officer was suspected of involvement in an international drug ring.
Synonyms and related words
Groups of people with shared interests or aims
association
commission
organization
5
singular a particular quality that something such as a statement seems to have
Her account has a ring of authenticity about it.
have a ring of truth:
His version of events had a ring of truth.
have a familiar ring:
This story may have a familiar ring to it.
Synonyms and related words
Features and qualities
feature
quality
factor
6
countable a sound produced by a phone when someone calls you
Synonyms and related words
Using a telephone
answer
busy
busy signal
7
countable mainly Britisha flat circle heated by gas or electricity on the top of a stove
Synonyms and related words
Machines and equipment used for cooking
barbecue
barbie
beater
8
no ring no bring
a policy of only allowing guests who are engaged or married to bring their partners with them
It’s been reported that Pippa is enforcing a ‘no ring, no bring’ policy at her wedding.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 23/05/2017
Open Dictionary - May2017

phrases

give someone a ring

ring

verb

UK /rɪŋ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	ring
he/she/it	rings
present participle	ringing
past tense	rang
past participle	rung

1
transitive Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬to make a bell produce a sound
He rang the doorbell.
Synonyms and related words
To make a loud sound
bang
beep
blare
1. 1a
  intransitive if a bell rings, it produces a sound
  A bell rang and the children trooped back into the school.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a loud sound
  bang
  beep
  blare
2. 1b
  intransitive/transitive to ring a bell as a signal for someone to come to you or to help you
  You rang, sir?
  ring for:
  Please ring for assistance.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a loud sound
  bang
  beep
  blare
2
intransitive to make a continuous loud high sound
The cobblestones rang beneath the horses’ feet.
Synonyms and related words
To make a loud sound
bang
beep
blare
1. 2a
  literaryif a place rings with a sound, it is full of a loud sound
  ring with:
  The room rang with his frightened cries.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a loud sound
  bang
  beep
  blare
2. 2b
  if a sound rings in a place, it is loud and you can hear it clearly
  A great cheer rang through the hall.
  Synonyms and related words
  What sound can do and changing sounds
  amplify
  reverberate
  fade
3
intransitive/transitive Britishto call someone by telephone
Ring me at home later.
Sarah rang to say she couldn’t come tonight.
ring for:
Why don’t we just ring for a taxi?
ring about:
I’m ringing about the vacancy you advertised.
Synonyms and related words
Using a telephone
answer
busy
call
1. 3a
  intransitive if a telephone rings, it makes a sound to show that someone is calling
  The phone rang again immediately.
  Synonyms and related words
  Using a telephone
  answer
  busy
  call
4
intransitive if your ears ring, you continue to hear a loud sound in your head for a short time after you have heard a loud noise or someone has hit you
The sound of the shot left Rory’s ears ringing.
Synonyms and related words
To make a continuous sound
roar
rumble
buzz
5
past tense ringed
past participle ringed
transitive to surround someone or something, especially in order to protect them or to prevent them from escaping
Protesters carrying signs ringed the hotel.
Ringed by soldiers for protection, he tried to address the crowd.
Synonyms and related words
To surround or put something around something
kettle
surround
enclose
1. 5a
  to draw a circle around something, especially to show that you have chosen it or to make it easy to notice
  She ringed the date on the calendar in the kitchen.
  Synonyms and related words
  To draw, or to make a mark or pattern
  draw
  mark
  outline
2. 5b
  to put a metal ring with a special number on it around the leg of a bird so that you can recognize it again later
  Synonyms and related words
  Bird watching and ornithology
  bird-watching
  hide
  ornithologist
6
ring off the hook
to be constantly ringing because of a large number of incoming calls
When Rebecca put her house on the market, her telephone was ringing off the hook.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 26/07/2017
Open Dictionary - July2017

phrases

ring a bell

ring the changes

ring hollow

ring in your ears

ring true

phrasal verbs

ring around

ring back

ring in

ring off

ring out

ring round

ring through

ring up

ring

verb

US /rɪŋ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	ring
he/she/it	rings
present participle	ringing
past tense	rang
past participle	rung

1
transitive Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬to make a bell produce a sound
He rang the doorbell.
Synonyms and related words
To make a loud sound
bang
beep
blare
1. 1a
  intransitive if a bell rings, it produces a sound
  A bell rang and the children trooped back into the school.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a loud sound
  bang
  beep
  blare
2. 1b
  intransitive/transitive to ring a bell as a signal for someone to come to you or to help you
  ring for:
  Please ring for assistance.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a loud sound
  bang
  beep
  blare
2
intransitive to make a continuous loud high sound
The cobblestones rang beneath the horses’ feet.
Synonyms and related words
To make a loud sound
bang
beep
blare
1. 2a
  literaryif a place rings with a sound, it is full of a loud sound
  ring with:
  The room rang with his frightened cries.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a loud sound
  bang
  beep
  blare
2. 2b
  if a sound rings in a place, it is loud and you can hear it clearly
  A great cheer rang through the hall.
  Synonyms and related words
  What sound can do and changing sounds
  amplify
  reverberate
  fade
3
intransitive if your ears ring, you continue to hear a loud sound in your head for a short time after you have heard a loud noise or someone has hit you
The sound of the shot left Rory’s ears ringing.
Synonyms and related words
To make a continuous sound
roar
rumble
buzz
4
past tense ringed
past participle ringed
transitive to surround someone or something, especially in order to protect them or to prevent them from escaping
Protesters carrying signs ringed the embassy.
Ringed by soldiers for protection, he tried to address the crowd.
Synonyms and related words
To surround or put something around something
kettle
surround
enclose
1. 4a
  to draw a circle around something, especially to show that you have chosen it or to make it easy to notice
  She ringed the date on the calendar in the kitchen.
  Synonyms and related words
  To draw, or to make a mark or pattern
  mark out
  draw
  mark
2. 4b
  mainly Britishto put a metal ring with a special number on it around the leg of a bird so that you can recognize it again later. The usual American word is tag.
  Synonyms and related words
  Bird watching and ornithology
  birding
  bird watching
  blind
5
ring off the hook
to be constantly ringing because of a large number of incoming calls
When Rebecca put her house on the market, her telephone was ringing off the hook.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 26/07/2017
Open Dictionary - July2017

phrases

ring a bell

ring hollow

ring true

ring in your ears

phrasal verbs

ring in

ring out

ring round

ring up

ring ​‌‌‌

the ring

no ring no bring

ring ​‌‌‌

the ring

no ring no bring

ring ​‌‌‌

ring off the hook

ring ​‌‌‌

ring off the hook

ring

ring

ring

ring