Dictionary.com
definitions

rung

1
[ruhng]
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rung ON THESAURUS.COM

verb

simple past tense and past participle of ring2.

rung

2
[ruhng]

noun

one of the crosspieces, usually rounded, forming the steps of a ladder.
a rounded or shaped piece fixed horizontally, for strengthening purposes, as between the legs of a chair.
a spoke of a wheel.
a stout stick, rod, or bar, especially one of rounded section, forming a piece in something framed or constructed.
a stage in a scale, level in a hierarchy, etc.; degree: He rose a few rungs in the company.

Origin of rung

2
before 1000; Middle English; Old English hrung; cognate with Gothic hrunga rod, German Runge
Related formsrung·less, adjective
Can be confusedrung wrung

ring

1
[ring]

noun

a typically circular band of metal or other durable material, especially one of gold or other precious metal, often set with gems, for wearing on the finger as an ornament, a token of betrothal or marriage, etc.
anything having the form of such a band: a napkin ring; a smoke ring.
a circular or surrounding line or mark: dark rings around the eyes.
a circular course: to dance in a ring.
a number of persons or things situated in a circle or in an approximately circular arrangement: a ring of stones; a ring of hills.
the outside edge of a circular body, as a wheel; rim.
an enclosed area, often circular, as for a sports contest or exhibition: a circus ring.
a bullring.
an enclosure in which boxing and wrestling matches take place, usually consisting of a square, canvas-covered platform with surrounding ropes that are supported at each corner by posts.
the sport of boxing; prizefighting: the heyday of the ring.
(formerly in the U.S., now only in Brit.) an area in a racetrack where bookmakers take bets.
a group of persons cooperating for unethical, illicit, or illegal purposes, as to control stock-market prices, manipulate politicians, or elude the law: a ring of dope smugglers.
a single turn in a spiral or helix or in a spiral course.
Geometry. the area or space between two concentric circles.
annual ring.
a circle of bark cut from around a tree.
Chemistry. a number of atoms so united that they may be graphically represented in cyclic form.Compare chain(def 7).
Architecture. rowlock(def 1).
a bowlike or circular piece at the top of an anchor, to which the chain or cable is secured.
Also called spinning ring. Textiles. (in the ring-spinning frame) a circular track of highly polished steel on which the traveler moves and which imparts twists to the yarn by variations in its vertical movement.
a unit of measurement of the diameter of cigars, equal to 1/64 of an inch.Also called ring gauge.
Automotive, Machinery. piston ring.
Mathematics. a set that is closed under the operations of addition and multiplication and that is an Abelian group with respect to addition and an associative semigroup with respect to multiplication and in which the distributive laws relating the two operations hold.

verb (used with object), ringed, ring·ing.

to surround with a ring; encircle.
to form into a ring.
to insert a ring through the nose of (an animal).
to hem in (animals) by riding or circling about them.
to girdle(def 11).
(in horseshoes, ringtoss, etc.) to encircle (a stake or peg) with a ring, horseshoe, etc.

verb (used without object), ringed, ring·ing.

to form a ring or rings.
to move in a ring or a constantly curving course: The road rings around the mountain.

Origin of ring

1
before 900; Middle English; Old English hring; cognate with Dutch, German ring, Old Norse hringr; akin to rank1
Related formsring·less, adjectivering·like, adjective

Synonyms for ring

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ring ON THESAURUS.COM
2. circle, circlet, hoop; annulus. 7. arena, rink, circle. 12. bloc, coterie, confederacy, league; gang, mob, syndicate.

Synonym study

12. Ring, clique are terms applied with disapproving connotations to groups of persons. Ring suggests a small and intimately related group, combined for selfish and often dishonest purposes: a gambling ring. A clique is a small group that prides itself on its congeniality and exclusiveness: cliques in a school.

ring

2
[ring]

verb (used without object), rang, rung, ring·ing.

to give forth a clear resonant sound, as a bell when struck: The doorbell rang twice.
to make a given impression on the mind; appear: words that rang false; a story that rings true.
to cause a bell or bells to sound, especially as a summons: Just ring if you need anything.
to sound loudly; be loud or resonant; resound (often followed by out): His brave words rang out.
to be filled with sound; reecho with sound, as a place.
(of the ears) to have the sensation of a continued humming sound.
Chiefly British. to telephone.

verb (used with object), rang, rung, ring·ing.

to cause (a bell or device with a bell) to ring; sound by striking: to ring a bell.
to produce (sound) by or as if by ringing: The bell rang a low tone.
to announce or proclaim, usher in or out, summon, signal, etc., by or as if by the sound of a bell: to ring someone's praises; The bell rang the hour.
to test (a coin or other metal object) by the sound it produces when struck against something.
Chiefly British. to telephone.

noun

a ringing sound, as of a bell or bells: the ring of sleigh bells.
a sound or tone likened to the ringing of a bell: Rings of laughter issued from the school.
any loud sound; sound continued, repeated, or reverberated: the ring of iron upon stone.
a set or peal of bells.
a telephone call: Give me a ring tomorrow.
an act or instance of ringing a bell: No one answered my ring.
a characteristic sound, as of a coin.
the aspect or impression presented by a statement, an action, etc., taken as revealing a specified inherent quality: a ring of assurance in her voice; the ring of truth; a false ring.

Verb Phrases

ring in,
  1. to indicate one's arrival at work by punching in on a time clock.
  2. Informal.to introduce artfully or fraudulently: to ring in an imposter.
ring off,
  1. to terminate a telephone conversation.
  2. British Slang.to stop talking.
  3. British Slang.to go away.
ring out,
  1. to indicate one's departure from work by punching out on a time clock.
  2. to make a sound or noise; resound: The church bells rang out.
ring up,
  1. to register (the amount of a sale) on a cash register.
  2. to accomplish or record: to ring up a series of successes.
  3. Chiefly British.to telephone.

Origin of ring

2
before 900; Middle English ringen, Old English hringan; cognate with Old Norse hringja, German ringen
Related formsring·ing·ly, adverbring·ing·ness, noun

Synonyms for ring

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ring ON THESAURUS.COM
20. sound, tone, quality.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for rung

bar, tread, degree, level, grade, rod, board, round, stage, crosspiece, crossbar, rundle

Examples from the Web for rung

Contemporary Examples of rung

Historical Examples of rung

British Dictionary definitions for rung

rung

1

noun

one of the bars or rods that form the steps of a ladder
a crosspiece between the legs of a chair, etc
nautical a spoke on a ship's wheel or a handle projecting from the periphery
dialect a cudgel or staff
Derived Formsrungless, adjective

Word Origin for rung

Old English hrung; related to Old High German runga, Gothic hrugga

rung

2

verb

the past participle of ring 2

xref

See ring 2

ring

1

noun

a circular band usually of a precious metal, esp gold, often set with gems and worn upon the finger as an adornment or as a token of engagement or marriage
any object or mark that is circular in shape
a circular path or courseto run around in a ring
a group of people or things standing or arranged so as to form a circlea ring of spectators
an enclosed space, usually circular in shape, where circus acts are performed
a square apron or raised platform, marked off by ropes, in which contestants box or wrestle
the ring the sport of boxing
the field of competition or rivalry
throw one's hat in the ring to announce one's intention to be a candidate or contestant
a group of people usually operating illegally and covertlya drug ring; a paedophile ring
(esp at country fairs) an enclosure, often circular, where horses, cattle, and other livestock are paraded and auctioned
an area reserved for betting at a racecourse
a circular strip of bark cut from a tree or branch, esp in order to kill it
a single turn in a spiral
geometry the area of space lying between two concentric circles
maths a set that is subject to two binary operations, addition and multiplication, such that the set is an Abelian group under addition and is closed under multiplication, this latter operation being associative
botany short for annual ring
Also called: closed chain chem a closed loop of atoms in a molecule
astronomy any of the thin circular bands of small bodies orbiting a giant planet, esp SaturnSee also Saturn 2 (def. 1)
run rings around informal to be greatly superior to; outclass completely

verb rings, ringing or ringed (tr)

to surround with or as if with or form a ring; encircle
to mark (a bird) with a ring or clip for subsequent identification
to fit a ring in the nose of (a bull, pig, etc) so that it can be led easily
Also: ringbark
  1. to cut away a circular strip of bark from (a tree or branch) in order to kill it
  2. to cut a narrow or partial ring from (the trunk of a tree) in order to check or prevent vigorous growth
Australian and NZ to be the fastest shearer in a shearing shed (esp in the phrase ring the shed)

Word Origin for ring

Old English hring; related to Old Norse hringr

ring

2

verb rings, ringing, rang or rung

to emit or cause to emit a sonorous or resonant sound, characteristic of certain metals when struck
to cause (a bell) to emit a ringing sound by striking it once or repeatedly or (of a bell) to emit such a sound
  1. (tr)to cause (a large bell, esp a church bell) to emit a ringing sound by pulling on a rope that is attached to a wheel on which the bell swings back and forth, being sounded by a clapper inside itCompare chime 1 (def. 6)
  2. (intr)(of a bell) to sound by being swung in this way
(intr) (of a building, place, etc) to be filled with sound; echothe church rang with singing
(intr foll by for) to call by means of a bell, buzzer, etcto ring for the butler
Also: ring up mainly British to call (a person) by telephone
(tr) to strike or tap (a coin) in order to assess its genuineness by the sound produced
(intr) (of the ears) to have or give the sensation of humming or ringing
(intr) electronics (of an electric circuit) to produce a damped oscillatory wave after the application of a sharp input transition
slang to change the identity of (a stolen vehicle) by using the licence plate, serial number, etc, of another, usually disused, vehicle
ring a bell to sound familiar; remind one of something, esp indistinctly
ring down the curtain
  1. to lower the curtain at the end of a theatrical performance
  2. (foll by on)to put an end (to)
ring false to give the impression of being false
ring the bell
  1. to do, say, or be the right thing
  2. to reach the pinnacle of success or happiness
ring the changes to vary the manner or performance of an action that is often repeated
ring true to give the impression of being truethat story doesn't ring true

noun

the act of or a sound made by ringing
a sound produced by or suggestive of a bell
any resonant or metallic sound, esp one sustained or re-echoedthe ring of trumpets
informal, mainly British a telephone callhe gave her a ring last night
the complete set of bells in a tower or belfrya ring of eight bells See peal 1 (def. 3)
an inherent quality or characteristichis explanation has the ring of sincerity
electronics the damped oscillatory wave produced by a circuit that rings
See also ring back, ring in, ring off, ring out, ring up

Word Origin for ring

Old English hringan; related to Old High German hringen Old Norse hringja

usage

Rang and sang are the correct forms of the past tenses of ring and sing, although rung and sung are still heard informally and dialectally: he rung (rang) the bell
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 rung
n.

Old English hrung "rod, bar," from Proto-Germanic *khrungo (cf. Middle Low German runge, Old High German runga "stake, stud, stave," German Runge "stake, stud, stave," Middle Dutch ronghe, Dutch rong "rung," Gothic hrugga "staff"), of unknown origin with no connections outside Germanic. Sense in English narrowed to "round or stave of a ladder" (first attested late 13c.), but usage of cognate words remains more general in other Germanic languages.

This [rungs] has generally been considered as a mere corruption of rounds; and people of education use only this latter word. [John Pickering, "A Vocabulary or Collection of Words and Phrases which have been Supposed to be Peculiar to the United States of America," Boston, 1816]

ring

n.1

"circular band," Old English hring "small circlet, especially one of metal for wearing on the finger or as part of a mail coat; anything circular," from Proto-Germanic *khrengaz (cf. Old Norse hringr, Old Frisian hring, Danish, Swedish, Dutch ring, Old High German hring, German Ring), literally "something curved," from PIE *skrengh- nasalized form of (s)kregh-, from root *(s)ker- "to turn, bend," with wide-ranging derivative senses (cf. Latin curvus "bent, curved," crispus "curly;" Old Church Slavonic kragu "circle," and perhaps Greek kirkos "ring," koronos "curved").

Other Old English senses were "circular group of persons," also "horizon." Meaning "place for prize fight and wrestling bouts" (early 14c.) is from the space in a circle of bystanders in the midst of which such contests once were held, "... a circle formed for boxers, wrestlers, and cudgel players, by a man styled Vinegar; who, with his hat before his eyes, goes round the circle, striking at random with his whip to prevent the populace from crowding in" [Grose, 1788]. Meaning "combination of interested persons" is from 1829. Of trees, from 1670s; fairy ring is from 1620s. Ring finger is Old English hringfingr, a compound found in other Germanic languages. To run rings round (someone) "be superior to" is from 1891.

Nursery rhyme ring a ring a rosie is attested in an American form (with a different ending) from c.1790. "The belief that the rhyme originated with the Great Plague is now almost universal, but has no evidence to support it and is almost certainly nonsense" ["Oxford Dictionary of English Folklore"]. This proposal of connection dates only to the late 1960s.

ring

v.1

"sound a bell," Old English hringan "sound, give a certain resonant sound when struck; announce by bells," from Proto-Germanic *khrenganan (cf. Old Norse hringja, Swedish ringa, Middle Dutch ringen), probably of imitative origin. Related: Rang; rung. Originally a weak verb, strong inflexion began in early Middle English by influence of sing, etc. To ring down a theatrical curtain is from 1772, from the custom of signaling for it by ringing a bell. To ring up a purchase on a cash register is by 1937, from the bell that sounded. Specialized sense "give a resonant sound when struck as an indication of genuineness or purity," with transferred use (e.g. to ring hollow) is from 1610s.

ring

v.2

"make a circle around," Old English ymbhringan, from the root of ring (n.1). Intransitive sense "gather in a ring" is mid-15c. Sense of "provide or attach a ring" is late 14c. Meaning "move in a circle around" is from 1825. Related: Ringed; ringing. Cf. Frisian ringje, Middle Dutch and Dutch ringen, Old High German ringan, German ringen, Old Norse hringa, hringja.

ring

n.2

1540s, "set of church bells," from ring (v.1). Meaning "a call on the telephone" is from 1900; to give (someone) a ring "call on the telephone" was in use by 1910. Meaning "a ringing tone" is from 1620s; specifically "the ringing sound made by a telephone" by 1951. Meaning "resonance of coin or glass as a test of genuineness" is from 1850, with transferred use (ring of truth, etc.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
rung in Medicine

ring

[rĭng]

n.

A circular object, form, or arrangement with a vacant circular center.
The area between two concentric circles; annulus.
A group of atoms linked by bonds that may be represented graphically in circular or triangular form.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
rung in Science

ring

[rĭng]

A set of elements subject to the operations of addition and multiplication, in which the set is an abelian group under addition and associative under multiplication and in which the two operations are related by distributive laws.
A group of atoms linked by bonds that may be represented graphically in circular or triangular form. Benzene, for example, contains a ring of six carbon atoms. All cyclic compounds contain one or more rings. See annulus.
See growth ring.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with rung

ring

In addition to the idioms beginning with ring

  • ring a bell
  • ring down the curtain on
  • ring false
  • ring one's chimes
  • ringside seat
  • ring the changes
  • ring true
  • ring up

also see:

  • brass ring
  • give someone a ring
  • have a familiar ring
  • run rings around
  • three-ring circus
  • throw one's hat in the ring
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.