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Definition of ling
ling
/lɪŋ/
ling
Plural:lings
ling Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
ling Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
An elongated, commercially valuable marine fish of the cod family, native to the deep waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Example
"The local fishermen returned to port with a heavy catch of ling and haddock."
2
British A low-growing evergreen shrub of the heath family, characterized by small pinkish-purple flowers, widely found on the moors of Europe and Asia Minor.
Example
"The rolling Scottish highlands were beautifully carpeted with purple ling in the late summer."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for ling• Rhymes for ling
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The word has two distinct origins: as a fish, it derives from Middle English 'lenge', likely related to its 'long' shape; as a plant (heather), it stems from Old Norse 'lyng'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ling. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ling