RING | Meaning, Definition In Cambridge English Dictionary

Meaning of ring in English ringnoun uk /rɪŋ/ us /rɪŋ/

ring noun (CIRCLE)

Add to word list Add to word list B2 [ C ] a circle of any material, or any group of things or people in a circular shape or arrangement: The game involved throwing metal rings over a stick. The children sat in a ring around the teacher.   Martin Barraud/OJO Images/GettyImages A2 [ C ] a circular piece of jewellery worn especially on your finger: He bought her a diamond/emerald, etc. ring (= a ring with a jewel attached to it).   kisgorcs/iStock/Getty Images Plus/GettyImages [ C ] a group of people who help each other, often secretly and in a way that is to their advantage: a drug ring a spy ring See also ringleader [ C ] (US usually element) a circular piece of material often made of metal that can be heated in order to be used for cooking: a gas ring an electric ring [ C ] a special area where people perform or compete: a boxing ring The horses trotted round the ring. See also ringside   Daft_Lion_Studio/iStock/Getty Images Plus/GettyImages rings [ plural ] two round handles at the ends of two long ropes that hang from the ceiling and are used in gymnastics: Sadly, he injured his left shoulder badly while performing on the rings. See more

• She accidentally dropped her ring down a drain in the road.
• Muhammad Ali's showmanship in the ring shouldn't detract from his considerable skill.
• She sat there nervously twisting the ring around on her finger.
• The jeweller skillfully engraved the initials on the ring.
• His arm was manacled to a ring on the wall.

Spherical, circular and annular objects

• air bubble
• ball
• bead
• bobbin
• bobble
• cone
• cylindrically
• disc
• disk
• game ball
• hoop
• knob
• papillate
• pearl
• pelleted
• roll
• sphere
• spheroid
• spool
• tubal

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Things collected in lines or rings Jewelry Groups of people Kitchen appliances Surfaces on which sports take place

ring noun (PHONE)

A2 [ S ] mainly UK (US usually and UK also call) the act of making a phone call to someone: give someone a ring I'll give you a ring tomorrow. Communications - by telephone

• 4G
• 5G
• access code
• aeroplane mode
• airplane mode
• alarm call
• buzz
• chatline
• dead zone
• drunk dial
• ex-directory
• ISDN
• make a call
• misdial
• nomophobia
• on the line
• patch someone through phrasal verb
• reverse
• switchboard operator
• tinkle

See more results »

ring noun (SOUND)

B2 [ C ] the sound a bell makes: There was a ring at the door. He gave a ring at the door. Sounds made by objects, movement or impact

• auditory feedback
• bang around phrasal verb
• bleep
• boop
• choo-choo
• chuff
• clack
• clap along
• honk
• peal
• resonance
• rumble
• soughing
• spit
• susurration
• susurrus
• thrum
• thunk
• ting-a-ling
• whisper

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Idioms

have a familiar ring (to it) have a/the ring of truth run rings round someone ringverb uk /rɪŋ/ us /rɪŋ/

ring verb (PHONE)

A2 [ I or T ] mainly UK rang | rung (US usually and UK also call) to make a phone call to someone: I ring home once a week to tell my parents I'm okay.ring for There's been an accident - can you ring for an ambulance?ring (in) The boss rang (in) to say he'll be back at 4.30.ring round UK I rang round the airlines (= called many of them) to find out the cheapest price.ring (up) Why don't you ring (up) Simon and ask him to the party?

• "I'm sorry I forgot to ring you." "Oh, don't worry."
• "Margot rang to say she's too busy to come." "She would - she always has an excuse."
• That decorator you rang about painting the house - did he ever return your call?
• If anyone rings for me, please tell them I'll be back in the office at four o'clock.
• I've just rung him but there was no answer.

Communications - by telephone

• 4G
• 5G
• access code
• aeroplane mode
• airplane mode
• alarm call
• buzz
• chatline
• dead zone
• drunk dial
• ex-directory
• ISDN
• make a call
• misdial
• nomophobia
• on the line
• patch someone through phrasal verb
• reverse
• switchboard operator
• tinkle

See more results »

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Communicating & keeping in touch

ring verb (MAKE SOUND)

B1 [ I or T ] rang | rung to (cause to) make the sound of a bell: The doorbell/phone rang. Anne's alarm clock rang for half an hour before she woke. I rang the bell but nobody came to the door. My head is/My ears are still ringing (= are full of a ringing noise) from the sound of the military band.

• I was just snuggling down into my warm duvet when the phone rang.
• I was on the toilet when the phone rang.
• The phone rang, breaking my concentration.
• Is that the bell ringing?
• Ring the bell and see if he answers.

Sounds made by objects, movement or impact

• auditory feedback
• bang around phrasal verb
• bleep
• boop
• choo-choo
• chuff
• clack
• clap along
• honk
• peal
• resonance
• rumble
• soughing
• spit
• susurration
• susurrus
• thrum
• thunk
• ting-a-ling
• whisper

See more results »

ring verb (CIRCLE)

[ T ] ringed | ringed to surround something: Armed police ringed the hijacked plane.be ringed by/with The harbour is dangerous - it's ringed by/with rocks and reefs. [ T ] UK ringed | ringed to draw a circle around something: Students should ring the correct answers in pencil. [ T ] UK ringed | ringed (US band) to put a ring on something, especially an animal: We ringed the birds (= put rings around their legs) so that we could identify them later. Enclosing, surrounding and immersing

• all around
• beleaguer
• beleaguered
• beset
• border
• drown
• enclosure
• fence something in phrasal verb
• fence something off phrasal verb
• flood someone/something out
• flooding
• gather
• gift wrap
• self-enclosed
• sheathe
• siege
• soak
• steep
• steep something/someone in something phrasal verb
• submersion

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Animal farming - general words

Idioms

ring a bell ring the changes (on) ring true/false

Phrasal verbs

ring (someone) back ring in something ring off ring out ring out something ring someone/something up ring something up ring someone up ring with something (Definition of ring from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

ring | American Dictionary

ringnoun us /rɪŋ/

ring noun (CIRCLE)

Add to word list Add to word list [ C ] a circular piece, esp. of jewelry worn on a finger: a gold wedding ring [ C ] A ring is also any group of things or people in a circular shape or arrangement: a key ring A ring of people joined hands in the dance. [ C ]   earth science A ring is also the small pieces of matter that circle around a planet.

ring noun (SPACE)

a space where people perform or compete that is separated from, and usually at the center of, the space where people can watch the event: a boxing ring a one-ring/three-ring circus

ring noun (GROUP)

[ C ] a group of people who work together, often secretly in criminal activities: a spy ring

ring noun (SOUND)

[ C usually sing ] a telephone call: I’ll give Sophia a ring.

Idiom

something rings a bell ringverb us /rɪŋ/

ring verb (SOUND)

[ I/T ] past tense rang us/ræŋ/ | past participle rung us/rʌŋ/ to make a sound, esp. the sound made when metal is hit, or to cause a bell to make a sound: [ I ] The telephone rang. [ T ] I rang the doorbell but nobody answered. [ I ] My ears are ringing (= I hear a noise that is not really there).

ring verb (CIRCLE)

[ T ] to surround something: The island is ringed with rocks.

ringer

noun [ C usually sing ] us /ˈrɪŋ·ər/ I turned the ringer off on my phone so I could get some sleep.

Phrasal verbs

ring up something ring up someone (Definition of ring from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

ring | Business English

ringverb uk /rɪŋ/ us rang | rung Add to word list Add to word list [ I or T ]   COMMUNICATIONS   ( UK also ring up) to call someone on the phone: If he's out of the office, ring his mobile. I rang a few stockbrokers to see what they would recommend. When someone rings up, we can make provisional approval for a loan within five minutes.ring (sb) about/for sth The price of insurance can depend on when you ring for a quote. See also call verb [ I ]   COMMUNICATIONS if a phone rings, it makes a sound because someone is calling: The phone was ringing. My phone didn't ring all morning.  ring the (cash) register (also (cash) registers are ringing) used to describe a situation in which there are a lot of sales or a big profit is being made: Consumers are ringing cash registers at a steady pace, incomes are on the rise, and exports are rocketing. Cash registers were ringing across the nation over the Christmas period.  ring off the hook US COMMUNICATIONS if a phone is ringing off the hook, it rings a lot of times: His phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from people who want him to do work for them.

Phrasal verbs

ring around (sb/sth) ring (sb) back ring in ring off ring up sth ringnoun uk /rɪŋ/ us a group of people working together illegally: a drugs/smuggling/betting ring STOCK MARKET the part of a stock exchange or commodity exchange (= place where oil, metal, grain, coffee, etc. are traded) where the buying and selling takes place: Some commodity markets still have a trading floor or ring. See also pit  give sb a ring UK informal COMMUNICATIONS to call someone on the phone: If we can be of any further assistance please give us a ring.

See also

auction ring price ring (Definition of ring from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of ring

ring During lignification, phenyl rings of lignin precursors align to the cellulose molecule surfaces in a controlled and ordered process. From the Cambridge English Corpus These will complete a ring of trees around the site. From the Cambridge English Corpus The seeds (diameter 1-2 mm) contain a peripheral embryo that forms a ring around the central perisperm. From the Cambridge English Corpus People preferred to be paid in bracelets, rings, glass necklaces, and other items. From the Cambridge English Corpus Soon after this the annular ring also becomes unstable and breaks up into somewhat larger droplets. From the Cambridge English Corpus Inverted pigeonite is often enclosed by clinopyroxene (augite) and contains her ring bone-like augite lamellae. From the Cambridge English Corpus We have identified one pathway which unquestionably arose from such a remnant of ring tissue. From the Cambridge English Corpus The ring, once completed, would have been able to take any hoop stresses that arose from the next course to be erected. From the Cambridge English Corpus Nonetheless, the interviews will likely ring familiar and genuine to those who knew some of these artists. From the Cambridge English Corpus This may open the way to finding relatively distinct growth rings in the xylem of some evergreen species in these forests. From the Cambridge English Corpus The feet have five toes each and rest on a ring below which extends a 16.5 cm long cylindrical peg base. From the Cambridge English Corpus Knees are shown but no depiction of feet; the legs end in a ring below which is a round peg base 8 cm long. From the Cambridge English Corpus After the formation of the fibrous atrioventricular junction, the ring becomes eventually located in the lower margin of the right atrial myocardium. From the Cambridge English Corpus As another example, consider transport in the vicinity of a single unsteady vortex ring. From the Cambridge English Corpus If an action in the script did not ring true, the actor had to imagine circumstances that made it meaningful. From the Cambridge English Corpus See all examples of ring These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors. What is the pronunciation of ring?

Translations of ring

in Chinese (Traditional) 圓圈, 環（狀物）, 圓形的東西… See more in Chinese (Simplified) 圆圈, 环（状物）, 圆形的东西… See more in Spanish anillo, círculo, pista… See more in Portuguese círculo, anel, ringue… See more in Marathi in Japanese in Turkish in French in Catalan in Dutch in Tamil in Hindi in Gujarati in Danish in Swedish in Malay in German in Norwegian in Urdu in Ukrainian in Telugu in Bengali in Czech in Indonesian in Thai in Vietnamese in Polish in Korean in Italian कडं, वर्तुळ, अंगठी… See more 指輪, 輪, （ベルなどの）音… See more yüzük, alyans, halka… See more sonner, résonner, bourdonner… See more anell, cercle, rotllana… See more ring, kring, syndicaat… See more எந்தவொரு பொருளின் வட்டம், அல்லது வட்ட வடிவில் அல்லது ஏற்பாட்டில் உள்ள விஷயங்கள் அல்லது நபர்களின் எந்தவொரு குழுவும், குறிப்பாக உங்கள் விரலில் அணிந்திருக்கும் நகைகளின் வட்ட துண்டு… See more गोलाकार, (आभूषण) अँगूठी, (लोगों का एक गुप्त समूह) गिरोह… See more ગોળાકાર આકાર, વીંટી, ટોળી… See more ring, -ring, arena… See more ring, arena, manege… See more cincin, gegelang, bulatan… See more der Ring, umringen, umkreisen… See more ringe, være full av bråk, omringe… See more دائرہ نما, حلقہ, چھلا… See more кільце, обручка, коло… See more ఏదైనా పదార్ధం యొక్క వృత్తం లేదా ఒక గుండ్రటి ఆకారంలో లేదా అమరికలో ఉన్న వస్తువుల లేదా మనుషుల సమూహం, ఉంగరం, ఒకరికొకరు సహాయం చేసుకునే వ్యక్తుల సమూహం… See more রিং, গোলাকৃতি, আংটি… See more prsten, kroužek, prstenec… See more cincin, lingkaran, gelanggang… See more แหวน, ห่วง, วง… See more cái nhẫn, cái đai, vòng tròn… See more pierścionek, pierścień, obrączka… See more 반지, 고리, 고리 모양… See more anello, cerchio, squillo… See more Need a translator?

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rimless -rimmed rimy rind ring ring (someone) back phrasal verb ring a bell idiom ring around (sb/sth) phrasal verb ring bearer {{#randomImageQuizHook.filename}} {{#randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes Try a quiz now {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{^randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}} {{/randomImageQuizHook.filename}}

More meanings of ring

• boxing ring
• engagement ring
• key ring
• ring-in
• nose ring
• ring pull
• ring road

See all meanings

• ring up something phrasal verb
• ring up someone phrasal verb
• ring in phrasal verb
• ring off phrasal verb
• ring out phrasal verb
• ring up sth phrasal verb
• ring (someone) back phrasal verb

See all phrasal verb meanings

• something rings a bell idiom
• ring true/false idiom
• ring true idiom
• ring/sound hollow idiom
• ring a bell idiom
• ring the changes (on) idiom
• alarm bells go off/ring/sound phrase

See all idioms and phrases

Word of the Day

pollen

UK /ˈpɒl.ən/ US /ˈpɑː.lən/

a powder, produced by the male part of a flower, that causes the female part of the same type of flower to produce seeds. It is carried by insects or the wind.

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• English   
  • Noun 
    • ring (CIRCLE)
    • rings
    • ring (PHONE)
    • ring (SOUND)
  • Verb 
    • ring (PHONE)
    • ring (MAKE SOUND)
    • ring (CIRCLE)
• American   
  • Noun 
    • ring (CIRCLE)
    • ring (SPACE)
    • ring (GROUP)
    • ring (SOUND)
  • Verb 
    • ring (SOUND)
    • ring (CIRCLE)
  • Noun 
    • ringer
• Business   
  • Verb 
    • ring
    • ring the (cash) register
    • ring off the hook
  • Noun 
    • ring
    • give sb a ring
• Examples

• Translations
• Grammar
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