dingdong
dingdong Lexical Profile
dingdong Game Scores & Validity
• interjection
Used to imitate the two-tone ringing sound of a doorbell or a large chime.
"Dingdong! There goes the doorbell, which means our dinner guests have finally arrived."
• noun
The alternating two-tone ringing sound made by a bell or doorbell, or a mechanism that produces such a chime.
"The loud dingdong of the front doorbell echoed down the quiet hallway."
North American A foolish, silly, or eccentric person (informal).
"Some dingdong parked right across the end of our driveway and blocked my car in."
British A noisy, heated argument or fight (informal).
"The neighbors had a massive dingdong over the boundary fence last weekend."
• adjective
British Fiercely contested, vigorous, or marked by rapid alternating action (especially of an argument, fight, or competition).
"The two rival teams engaged in a dingdong battle for the championship title right up to the final whistle."
• verb
To ring or chime with an alternating two-tone sound like a bell.
"The ice-cream truck dingdonged its way slowly down the suburban street."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 16th century as an onomatopoeic reduplication imitating the alternating high and low chimes of a swinging bell.