ling

[ ling ]

/ lɪŋ /

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noun, plural (especially collectively) ling, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) lings.

an elongated, marine, gadid food fish, Molva molva, of Greenland and northern Europe.

the burbot.

any of various other elongated food fishes.

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Origin of ling

1250–1300; Middle English ling, lenge; cognate with Dutch leng; akin to long¹, Old Norse langa

Words nearby ling

line trimmer, lineup, line voltage, liney, lin ft, ling, Lingala, lingam, Lingayat, Lingayata, Lingayen Gulf

Other definitions for ling (2 of 5)

ling²

[ ling ]

/ lɪŋ /

noun

the heather, Calluna vulgaris.

Origin of ling

1325–75; Middle English lyng<Old Norse lyng

Other definitions for ling (3 of 5)

-ling¹

a suffix of nouns, often pejorative, denoting one concerned with (hireling; underling), or diminutive (princeling; duckling).

Origin of -ling

Middle English, Old English; cognate with German -ling,Old Norse -lingr,Gothic -lings;see -le, -ing¹

Other definitions for ling (4 of 5)

-ling²

an adverbial suffix expressing direction, position, state, etc.: darkling; sideling.

Origin of -ling

Middle English, Old English; adv. use of gradational variant langlong¹

Other definitions for ling (5 of 5)

ling.

abbreviation

linguistics.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ling in a sentence

But the best luxury hotel, he says, is a completely Bhutanese venture: Zhiwa Ling in Paro.
Can Traditional Bhutan Survive Tourism?|Esha Chhabra|August 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of Zamora, the children have always asked questions, which Winick and Ling try and answer as openly as possible.
Pedro Zamora, a Hero in the Real World|Tim Teeman|June 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Winick and Ling still miss Zamora with a “sharp pang of grief.”
Pedro Zamora, a Hero in the Real World|Tim Teeman|June 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Last week, the Hong Kong–based South China Morning Post revealed the driver was the son of senior official Ling Jihua.
China Roiled by Rumors and Questions About Absent Heir Apparent Xi Jinping|Melinda Liu|September 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Police refused to name the driver—later reported to be Ling Gu, 23, the son of an influential ally of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
High Speed Scandal: Ferrari Incident Rocks China|Melinda Liu|September 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It is recorded by one writer that Chang Kiu-ling, when a youth, trained pigeons to carry letters to his friends.
Chinese Poems|Various
He hit Ling on the lower end of the breastbone, where his belly would be softest.
The Devil's Asteroid|Manly Wade Wellman
The plain was well-grassed, as high as Ling's knuckled knee.
The Devil's Asteroid|Manly Wade Wellman
I'm falling into the beast-man class, closer to Ling's type.
The Devil's Asteroid|Manly Wade Wellman
Ling grimaced, but followed lest his companions think him afraid.
The Devil's Asteroid|Manly Wade Wellman

British Dictionary definitions for ling (1 of 5)

ling¹

/ (lɪŋ) /

noun plural ling or lings

any of several gadoid food fishes of the northern coastal genus Molva, esp M. molva, having an elongated body with long fins

another name for burbot

Word Origin for ling

C13: probably from Low German; related to long 1

British Dictionary definitions for ling (2 of 5)

ling²

/ (lɪŋ) /

noun

another name for heather (def. 1)

Derived forms of ling

lingy, adjective

Word Origin for ling

C14: from Old Norse lyng

British Dictionary definitions for ling (3 of 5)

-ling¹

suffix forming nouns

often derogatory a person or thing belonging to or associated with the group, activity, or quality specifiednestling; underling

used as a diminutiveduckling

Word Origin for -ling

Old English -ling, of Germanic origin; related to Icelandic -lingr, Gothic -lings

British Dictionary definitions for ling (4 of 5)

-ling²

suffix forming adverbs

in a specified condition, manner, or directiondarkling; sideling

Word Origin for -ling

Old English -ling, adverbial suffix

British Dictionary definitions for ling (5 of 5)

ling.

abbreviation for

linguistics

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