Longman Dictionary English

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Related topics: Jewellery, Colours & sounds, Crime, Astronomy
ringring1 /rɪŋ/ ●●● S1 W2 noun [countable] 1 ring.jpg jewelleryDCJ a piece of jewellery that you wear on your finger a diamond ring a plain silver ring → engagement ring at engagement(1), signet ring, wedding ring2 circle a) CIRCLEan object in the shape of a circle a rubber ring for children to go swimming with onion rings a key ring → napkin ring b) MARKa circular line or markring around She left a dirty ring around the bath.ring round British English a ring round the moon c) GROUP OF PEOPLEa group of people or things arranged in a circlering of A ring of armed troops surrounded the building. The city was overlooked by a ring of high-rise buildings.3 → give somebody a ring4 bellsCSOUND the sound made by a bell or the act of making this sound a ring at the doorbell5 criminalsSCC a group of people who illegally control a business or criminal activity Are you aware that a drugs ring is being operated in the club? Secret files reveal an Oxford spy ring.6 → have the/a ring of something7 → have a familiar ring8 → run rings around somebody9 cooking British EnglishDFC one of the circular areas on top of a cooker that is heated by gas or electricity → hob SYN burner American English a gas ring10 sport a) DSOa small square area surrounded by ropes, where people box or wrestle → ringside b) the ringDSO the sport of boxing He retired from the ring at 34.11 entertainment a large circular area surrounded by seats at a circusCOLLOCATIONSverbswear a ringHe wore a gold ring on his right hand.have a ring onThey saw I didn’t have a wedding ring on.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ringa gold/silver ringShe took off her gold ring.a diamond/sapphire etc ringOn her right hand was a huge diamond ring.a heavy ringHer fingers were clustered with heavy rings.a plain ringShe wore a plain gold ring.a wedding ringHe gave her a diamond wedding ring on their wedding day.an engagement ringI noticed that she had an engagement ring on her finger.an eternity ring (=a ring given as a sign of lasting love, especially one with stones all round it)a signet ring (=a ring that has a letter or symbol cut into a flat surface)
Examples from the Corpus
ring• The cottage was surrounded by a ring of trees.• The children sat around him in a ring, eager to hear his story.• There were two car keys on a ring that said FIAT.• There was a ring at the door.• A ring of mountains encircles the Val d'Aosta.• The cup left a dark ring on the table.• Drug rings operate in most large cities of the world.• Cut the onion into rings and fry in a little oil.• This elegant Borzoi is shown leaving the judging ring, calmly and with poise.• napkin rings• They make great onion rings there.• The hostage's wrists had red rings on them where the ropes had been pulled tight.• Torn webbing between his right ring and middle fingers and a torn knee cartilage in 1992.• Kersey blew smoke rings and watched them with approval.• He sat in a corner blowing smoke rings.• Corvino was the sixth member of the spy ring to be arrested for stealing high-tech secrets from several silicon valley firms.• If the rings do not align symmetrically, look for a mark on either bridle.• He died right there in the ring.• When an advanced version of the ring becomes available, it will be tested in a Boston-area hospital, Yang said.• The ring glittered on its damson pouffe like some intra-uterine device.• My glass left a wet ring on the table.• You have to throw the wooden rings so that they land around the bottles.diamond ring• He scooped the jackpot and a diamond ring prize after calling house on 52 in our big money game number 229.• Deronda calls on Mirah to ask her to marry him, laying his gloves and diamond ring on a table.• A gold-and-diamond ring was taken at gunpoint.• Ruby and diamond ring, $ 129.• The plaintiff advertised a gold watch and diamond ring for sale.• The beautiful diamond ring had gone.• Pictures of the gold, diamond rings and expensive watches the two accumulated were shown in public anti-corruption exhibitions.• She wore large gold earrings and a heavy strand of pearls, and on her right hand was a huge diamond ring.• On her right hand was a huge diamond ring.ring round• They have a ring round their neck and are what they call walking toads.• When we say that a ring round the moon means rain, we refer to a connection in nature.• She still looked attractive, even with black rings round her eyes, he decided.• And most parents have found themselves desperately ringing round friends and family trying to find a babysitter.• She ran rings round him, but he loved her all the same.• He was a Gemini, complex and clever, a dual personality who could run rings round her with contemptuous ease.• Somebody thought of it at an editorial conference, and Muggins here had to ring round all these celebrities to get comments. spy ring• Secret files reveal an Oxford spy ring.• It suggests there was an Oxford spy ring in the 1930s which passed secrets to the Soviet Union.
Related topics: Colours & sounds, Telephone, telegraph
ringring2 /rɪŋ/ ●●● S1 W2 verb (past tense rang /ræŋ/, past participle rung /rʌŋ/) 1 bell a) [intransitive, transitive]CSOUND to make a bell make a sound, especially to call someone’s attention to you or to call someone to help you I rang the doorbell but no one came.ring for The sign said, ‘Ring for service’. Instead of ringing for the maid, she made the tea herself. b) [intransitive]SOUND if a bell rings, it makes a noise The bell rang for the end of break.2 telephone a) [intransitive, transitive] British English to make a telephone call to someone SYN call, phone I was going to ring you but I don’t have your number.ring for Sally rang for a taxi. b) [intransitive]TCT if a telephone rings, it makes a sound to show that someone is telephoning you The phone hasn’t stopped ringing all day.► see thesaurus at phone3 sounds [intransitive] a) CHBHif your ears ring, they make a continuous sound that only you can hear, after you have been somewhere very noisy or heard a loud sound The explosion made our ears ring. b) literaryCSOUND if a place rings with a sound, it is full of that soundring with The whole room rang with their laughter.4 → ring a bell5 → not ring true6 → ring the changes7 → ring hollow8 → ring in your earsGrammarRing belongs to a group of verbs where the same noun can be the subject of the verb or its object. • You can say: The teacher rang the bell. In this sentence, ‘the bell’ is the object of ring.• You can say: The bell rang. In this sentence, ‘the bell’ is the subject of ring. → ring (somebody) back → ring in → ring off → ring out → ring round (somebody) → ring up→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
ring• Around midnight, the phone rang.• He was so loud my ears rang.• I wondered when you were going to ring.• All the students were out of their seats as soon as the bell rang.• At that moment, the door bell rang.• She was about to go out when the phone rang.• The phone's ringing.• If you tap something made of good glass, it should keep ringing for quite a long time.• A burglar alarm was ringing further along the road.• My ears were still ringing hours after the concert.• The phone rang in the kitchen.• The telephone would ring less frequently, although the girls might be more frequently on the telephone.• Thousands of protesters ringed the embassy.• We heard them ringing the temple bell.• I have rung the world from these boxes and feel a great affection and gratitude towards them.• Her eyes were ringed with heavy black liner.• The cathedral rang with the amazing voices of the choir.ring for• Roberts walked across the lobby and rang for the elevator.ringring3 verb (past tense and past participle ringed) [transitive] 1 AROUND/ROUNDto surround something Thousands of people ringed the court building to demand the release of Mr Cox.be ringed with something Her eyes were ringed with stiff black lashes.2 MARK British English to draw a circular mark around something SYN circle Ring the mistakes in red.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
ring• Around midnight, the phone rang.• He was so loud my ears rang.• The phone rang in the kitchen.• I have rung the world from these boxes and feel a great affection and gratitude towards them.Ring, TheThe RingRing, The a set of four operas by Richard Wagner, known also as The Ring of the Nibelung or The Ring Cycle. They are based on stories from German mythology, and are known for being very long.From Longman Business Dictionaryringring1 /rɪŋ/ noun [countable]1 (also price ring)COMMERCELAW a group of manufacturers or suppliers who have agreed to fix prices, often illegally, so that there is no competition between them and they can make large profits2 (also auction ring), or bidders’ ringCOMMERCELAW a group of dealers who work together illegally to buy things at an AUCTION (=an event where things are sold to the person who is willing to pay most) at low prices, then sell them later at higher prices and share the profit3LAW a group of criminals working togetherPolice suspect a drug ring may be operating in the area.4FINANCE the area of a COMMODITY EXCHANGE where trading takes place5give somebody a ring especially British English to make a telephone call to someoneGive me a ring if you want to discuss the proposal.ringring2 verb (past tense rang /ræŋ/, past participle rung /rʌŋ/)1[intransitive, transitive] especially British English to make a telephone call to someoneSYNCALLI rang you yesterday but you weren’t in.Ring this number for further information.2[intransitive] If a telephone rings, it makes a sound to show that someone is phoning youThe phone hasn’t stopped ringing all day. → ring somebody back → ring in → ring off → ring round somebody → ring up→ See Verb tableOrigin ring1 1. Old English hring2. (1500-1600) → RING1
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