definitions

ling

1
[ ling ]
/ lɪŋ /
|

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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Nearby words

lines, linesman, lineswoman, lineup, liney, ling, ling., lingala, lingam, lingayat, lingayata

Origin of ling

1
1250–1300; Middle English ling, lenge; cognate with Dutch leng; akin to long1, Old Norse langa

Definition for ling (2 of 5)

ling

2
[ ling ]
/ lɪŋ /

noun

the heather, Calluna vulgaris.

Origin of ling

2
1325–75; Middle English lyng < Old Norse lyng

Definition for ling (3 of 5)

ling.

linguistics.

Definition for ling (4 of 5)

-ling

1

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

Origin of -ling

1
Middle English, Old English; cognate with German -ling, Old Norse -lingr, Gothic -lings; see -le, -ing1

Definition for ling (5 of 5)

-ling

2

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

Origin of -ling

2
Middle English, Old English; adv. use of gradational variant lang long1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ling

British Dictionary definitions for ling (1 of 5)

ling

1
/ (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)

ling

2
/ (lɪŋ) /

noun

another name for heather (def. 1)

Derived Forms

lingy, adjective

Word Origin for ling

C14: from Old Norse lyng

British Dictionary definitions for ling (3 of 5)

ling.

abbreviation for

linguistics

British Dictionary definitions for ling (4 of 5)

-ling

1

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 (5 of 5)

-ling

2

suffix forming adverbs

in a specified condition, manner, or directiondarkling; sideling

Word Origin for -ling

Old English -ling, adverbial suffix
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