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ling
1[ 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
1Words 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
21325–75; 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).
Other definitions for ling (4 of 5)
-ling2
an adverbial suffix expressing direction, position, state, etc.: darkling; sideling.
Origin of -ling
2Middle 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. 2022
How to use ling in a sentence
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)
Derived forms of ling
lingy, adjectiveWord 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
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