ring
ring Lexical Profile
ring Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small circular band, typically made of precious metal and often set with gemstones, worn on a finger as an ornament or a token of marriage or engagement.
"She wore a simple gold ring on her left hand."
A circular line, mark, or arrangement of objects or people with a hollow or open space in the center.
"The students sat in a ring around the campfire to listen to the story."
A clear, resonant sound made by or resembling that of a bell, or the act of making a telephone call.
"The sudden ring of the doorbell woke the dog from its nap."
An enclosed space,often roped and square or circular, in which boxing, wrestling, or circus performances take place.
"The two boxers stepped into the ring as the crowd cheered."
A group of people drawn together to engage in an illicit, secretive, or monopolistic enterprise.
"Federal investigators spent two years dismantling the international smuggling ring."
• verb
To make a clear, resonant, or vibrating sound, or to cause a bell or device to produce such a sound.
"The church bells ring every Sunday morning across the valley."
British To call someone by telephone.
"I will ring you as soon as the train arrives at the station."
To surround or form a circle around someone or something (conjugated regularly as 'ringed').
"Tall pine trees ring the tranquil mountain lake."
To convey a specified impression, quality, or feeling of truth or falsehood.
"His explanation for missing the meeting did not ring true."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse with the homophone 'wring' (to squeeze and twist). Note also that as a verb, 'ring' has two distinct conjugation patterns depending on its meaning: when referring to sound or a telephone call, it is irregular ('rang', 'rung'), whereas when meaning to surround or encircle, it is regular ('ringed', 'ringed').
• Rhymes for ring
Word Origin & Etymology
The word merges two distinct Old English roots: the circular noun and verb derive from Old English 'hring' (a circle or curved band), while the auditory verb and noun derive from Old English 'hringan' (to cause a bell to sound, probably of imitative origin).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.