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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 dings

Historical Examples

  • Dings had dropped her new wealth and was standing with a dubious face.

    Tales of Space and Time

    Herbert George Wells

  • I swear positif to de prisoner, his face, his figure, above all dings to his eyes.'

    Nevermore

    Rolf Boldrewood

  • "I cannot tispose of dings dot are not mine," the good German answered simply.

    Cousin Pons

    Honore de Balzac

  • By dot time I had learned some dings about der monkey peoples.

    Life's Handicap

    Rudyard Kipling

  • Now this is my misfortune—I dare not speak in the house, while that jade Gipsy dings about like a fury.

    The Beaux-Stratagem

    George Farquhar

British Dictionary definitions for dings

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 dings

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