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ding1

[ding]
verb (used with object)
  1. to cause to make a ringing sound.
  2. to speak about insistently.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to make a ringing sound.
  2. to talk insistently.
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noun
  1. a ringing sound.
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Origin of ding1

First recorded in 1575–85; see origin at ding-dong

ding2

[ding]Informal.
verb (used with object)
  1. to cause surface damage to; dent: Flying gravel had dinged the car's fenders.
  2. to strike with force; hit: The catcher was dinged on the shoulder by a wild throw.
  3. to blackball: Only one freshman was dinged by the fraternity.
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noun
  1. dent; nick: The surfboard has a few dings in it from scraping over rocks.
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Origin of ding2

1250–1300; Middle English dingen, dengen, probably Old English *dingan; akin to Old English dencgan, Old Norse dengja
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

knockpoundbeatdriveclangdentdashnickstrokethumpthrustring

Examples from the Web for dinging

Historical Examples

  • But you must remember one thing—that fellow was dinging at him for money.

    The Rover Boys at Big Horn Ranch

    Edward Stratemeyer

  • Some distance away, they could hear the dinging of a cowbell.

  • If I'm to have any good, let it come of itself; not to keep dinging it, dinging it into one so.

    She Stoops to Conquer

    Oliver Goldsmith

  • Her smile flattered him; her frail, dinging hand flattered him.

    The Roll-Call

    Arnold Bennett

  • The dinging down of the table was the signal of the rebellious ring leaders for open war.

    The Provost

    John Galt

British Dictionary definitions for dinging

ding1

verb
  1. to ring or cause to ring, esp with tedious repetition
  2. (tr) another word for din 1 (def. 2)
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noun
  1. an imitation or representation of the sound of a bell
  2. Australian informal a party or social event
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Word Origin

C13: probably of imitative origin, but influenced by din 1 + ring ²; compare Old Swedish diunga to beat

ding2

verb Scot
  1. to strike; dash down
  2. to surpass
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Word Origin

Middle English dingen
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dinging

ding

v.

1819, "to sound as metal when struck," possibly abstracted from ding-dong, of imitative origin. The meaning "to deal heavy blows" is c.1300, probably from Old Norse dengja "to hammer," perhaps also imitative. Meaning "dent" is 1960s. Related: Dinged; dinging.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper