ding

[ding]

verb (used with object)

to cause to make a ringing sound.

to speak about insistently.

verb (used without object)

to make a ringing sound.

to talk insistently.

noun

a ringing sound.

Origin of ding

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

ding

[ding]Informal.

verb (used with object)

to cause surface damage to; dent: Flying gravel had dinged the car's fenders.

to strike with force; hit: The catcher was dinged on the shoulder by a wild throw.

to blackball: Only one freshman was dinged by the fraternity.

noun

dent; nick: The surfboard has a few dings in it from scraping over rocks.

Origin of ding

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. 2019

Related Words for dings

knock, pound, beat, drive, clang, dent, dash, nick, stroke, thump, thrust, ring

Examples from the Web for dings

Historical Examples of dings

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

ding

verb

to ring or cause to ring, esp with tedious repetition

(tr) another word for din 1 (def. 2)

noun

an imitation or representation of the sound of a bell

Australian informal a party or social event

Word Origin for ding

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

ding

verb Scot

to strike; dash down

to surpass

Word Origin for ding

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

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.