1.  To cause to sound, especially by striking, as a metallic body; as, to ring a bell. [1913 Webster]

2.  To make (a sound), as by ringing a bell; to sound. [1913 Webster]
"The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums,
Hath rung night's yawning peal." [1913 Webster]

3.  To repeat often, loudly, or earnestly. [1913 Webster]

1.  To sound, as a bell or other sonorous body, particularly a metallic one. [1913 Webster]
"Now ringen trompes loud and clarion." [1913 Webster]
"Why ring not out the bells?" [1913 Webster]

2.  To practice making music with bells. Holder. [1913 Webster]

3.  To sound loud; to resound; to be filled with a ringing or reverberating sound. [1913 Webster]
"With sweeter notes each rising temple rung." [1913 Webster]
"The hall with harp and carol rang." [1913 Webster]
"My ears still ring with noise." [1913 Webster]

4.  To continue to sound or vibrate; to resound. [1913 Webster]
"The assertion is still ringing in our ears." [1913 Webster]

5.  To be filled with report or talk; as, the whole town rings with his fame. [1913 Webster]

1.  A sound; especially, the sound of vibrating metals; as, the ring of a bell. [1913 Webster]

2.  Any loud sound; the sound of numerous voices; a sound continued, repeated, or reverberated. [1913 Webster]
"The ring of acclamations fresh in his ears." [1913 Webster]

3.  A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned. [1913 Webster]
"As great and tunable a ring of bells as any in the world." [1913 Webster]

1.  A circle, or a circular line, or anything in the form of a circular line or hoop. [1913 Webster]

2.  Specifically, a circular ornament of gold or other precious material worn on the finger, or attached to the ear, the nose, or some other part of the person; as, a wedding ring. [1913 Webster]
"Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring." [1913 Webster]
"The dearest ring in Venice will I give you." [1913 Webster]

3.  A circular area in which races are or run or other sports are performed; an arena. [1913 Webster]
"Place me, O, place me in the dusty ring,
Where youthful charioteers contend for glory." [1913 Webster]

4.  An inclosed space in which pugilists fight; hence, figuratively, prize fighting. Thackeray. [1913 Webster]

5.  A circular group of persons. [1913 Webster]
"And hears the Muses in a ring
Aye round about Jove's alter sing." [1913 Webster]

6.  The plane figure included between the circumferences of two concentric circles. [1913 Webster]

7.  An instrument, formerly used for taking the sun's altitude, consisting of a brass ring suspended by a swivel, with a hole at one side through which a solar ray entering indicated the altitude on the graduated inner surface opposite. [1913 Webster]

8.  An elastic band partly or wholly encircling the spore cases of ferns. See Illust. of Sporangium. [1913 Webster]

9.  A clique; an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish purpose, as to control the market, distribute offices, obtain contracts, etc. [1913 Webster]
"The ruling ring at Constantinople." [1913 Webster]

1.  To surround with a ring, or as with a ring; to encircle. Shak. [1913 Webster]

2.  To make a ring around by cutting away the bark; to girdle; as, to ring branches or roots. [1913 Webster]

3.  To fit with a ring or with rings, as the fingers, or a swine's snout. [1913 Webster]

   To rise in the air spirally. [1913 Webster]

ring, n. & v.
--n.
1 a circular band, usu. of precious metal, worn on a finger as an ornament or a token of marriage or betrothal.
2 a circular band of any material.
3 the rim of a cylindrical or circular object, or a line or band round it.
4 a mark or part having the form of a circular band (had rings round his eyes; smoke rings).
5 = annual ring.
6 a an enclosure for a circus performance, betting at races, the showing of cattle, etc. b (prec. by the) bookmakers collectively. c a roped enclosure for boxing or wrestling.
7 a a group of people or things arranged in a circle. b such an arrangement.
8 a combination of traders, bookmakers, spies, politicians, etc. acting together usu. illicitly for the control of operations or profit.
9 a circular or spiral course.
10 = gas ring.
11 Astron. a a thin band or disc of particles etc. round a planet. b a halo round the moon.
12 Archaeol. a circular prehistoric earthwork usu. of a bank and ditch.
13 Chem. a group of atoms each bonded to two others in a closed sequence.
14 Math. a set of elements with two binary operations, addition and multiplication, the second being distributive over the first and associative.
--v.tr.
1 make or draw a circle round.
2 (often foll. by round, about, in) encircle or hem in (game or cattle).
3 put a ring on (a bird etc.) or through the nose of (a pig, bull, etc.).
4 cut (fruit, vegetables, etc.) into rings.

Idiom:
ring-binder a loose-leaf binder with ring-shaped clasps that can be opened to pass through holes in the paper. ring circuit an electrical circuit serving a number of power points with one fuse in the supply to the circuit. ring-dove
1 the woodpigeon.
2 the collared dove. ringed plover either of two small plovers, Charadrius hiaticula and C. dubius. ring finger the finger next to the little finger, esp. of the left hand, on which the wedding ring is usu. worn.
ring main
1 an electrical supply serving a series of consumers and returning to the original source, so that each consumer has an alternative path in the event of a failure.
2 = ring circuit. ring-neck any of various ring-necked birds esp. a type of pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, with a white neck-ring. ring-necked Zool. having a band or bands of colour round the neck. ring ouzel a thrush, Turdus torquatus, with a white crescent across its breast. ring-pull (of a tin) having a ring for pulling to break its seal. ring road a bypass encircling a town.
ring-tailed
1 (of monkeys, lemurs, racoons, etc.) having a tail ringed in alternate colours.
2 with the tail curled at the end. run (or make) rings round colloq. outclass or outwit (another person).

Derivative:
ringed adj. (also in comb.). ringless adj.

ring, v. & n.
--v. (past rang; past part. rung)
1 intr. (often foll. by out etc.) give a clear resonant or vibrating sound of or as of a bell (a shot rang out; a ringing laugh; the telephone rang).
2 tr. a make (esp. a bell) ring. b (absol.) call for service or attention by ringing a bell (you rang, madam?).
3 tr. (also absol.; often foll. by up) Brit. call by telephone (will ring you on Monday; did you ring?).
4 intr. (usu. foll. by with, to) (of a place) resound or be permeated with a sound, or an attribute, e.g. fame (the theatre rang with applause).
5 intr. (of the ears) be filled with a sensation of ringing.
6 tr. a sound (a peal etc.) on bells. b (of a bell) sound (the hour etc.).
7 tr. (foll. by in, out) usher in or out with bell-ringing (ring in the May; rang out the Old Year).
8 intr. (of sentiments etc.) convey a specified impression (words rang hollow).
--n.
1 a ringing sound or tone.
2 a the act of ringing a bell. b the sound caused by this.
3 colloq. a telephone call (give me a ring).
4 a specified feeling conveyed by an utterance (had a melancholy ring).
5 a set of esp. church bells.

Idiom:
ring back make a return telephone call to (a person who has telephoned earlier). ring a bell see BELL(1). ring the changes (on) see CHANGE. ring down (or up) the curtain
1 cause the curtain to be lowered or raised.
2 (foll. by on) mark the end or the beginning of (an enterprise etc.).
ring in
1 report or make contact by telephone.
2 Austral. & NZ sl. substitute fraudulently. ring in one's ears (or heart etc.) linger in the memory. ringing tone a sound heard by a telephone caller when the number dialled is being rung. ring off Brit. end a telephone call by replacing the receiver. ring true (or false) convey an impression of truth or falsehood.
ring up
1 Brit. call by telephone.
2 record (an amount etc.) on a cash register.

Derivative:
ringed adj. (also in comb.). ringer n. ringing adj. ringingly adv.

Etymology:
OE hringan

N  party, faction, side, denomination, communion, set, crew, band, horde, posse, phalanx, family, clan, team, tong, council, community, body, fellowship, sodality, solidarity, confraternity, familistere, familistery, brotherhood, sisterhood, knot, gang, clique, ring, circle, group, crowd, in-crowd, coterie, club, casino, machine, Tammany, Tammany Hall, corporation, corporate body, guild, establishment, company, copartnership, partnership, firm, house, joint concern, joint-stock company, cahoot, combine, trust, society, association, institute, institution, union, trades union, league, syndicate, alliance, Verein, Bund, Zollverein, combination, Turnverein, league offensive and defensive, alliance offensive and defensive, coalition, federation, confederation, confederacy, junto, cabal, camarilla, camorra, brigue, freemasonry, party spirit, Confederates, Conservatives, Democrats, Federalists, Federals, Freemason, Knight Templar, Kuklux, Kuklux Klan, KKK, Liberals, Luddites, Republicans, Socialists, Tories, Whigs staff, dramatis personae, in league, in partnership, in alliance, bonded together, banded together, linked, joined together, embattled, confederated, federative, joint, hand in hand, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, en masse, in the same boat.

N  arena, field, platform, scene of action, theater, walk, course, hustings, stare, boards, amphitheater, Coliseum, Colosseum, Flavian amphitheater, hippodrome, circus, race course, corso, turf, cockpit, bear garden, playground, gymnasium, palestra, ring, lists, tiltyard, tilting ground, Campus Martins, Champ de Allars, campus, boxing ring, canvas, theater of war, seat of war, battle-field, battle-ground, field of battle, field of slaughter, Aceldama, camp, the enemy's camp, trusting place.

N  jewel, jewelry, jewellery, bijoutry, bijou, bijouterie, trinket, fine jewelry, costume jewelry, junk jewelry, gem, gemstone, precious stone, necklace, bracelet, anklet, earring, locket, pendant, charm bracelet, ring, pinky ring, carcanet, chain, chatelaine, broach, pin, lapel pin, torque, diamond, brilliant, rock, beryl, emerald, chalcedony, agate, heliotrope, girasol, girasole, onyx, plasma, sard, sardonyx, garnet, lapis lazuli, opal, peridot, tourmaline, chrysolite, sapphire, ruby, synthetic ruby, spinel, spinelle, balais, oriental, oriental topaz, turquois, turquoise, zircon, cubic zirconia, jacinth, hyacinth, carbuncle, amethyst, alexandrite, cat's eye, bloodstone, hematite, jasper, moonstone, sunstone, pearl, cultured pearl, fresh-water pearl, mother of pearl, coral, jeweler, gemologist, minerologist, lapidary, lapidarian, gemology, gemmology, minerology, bejeweled, diamond, (gemstones), gemological.

N  pendency, dependency, suspension, hanging, pedicel, pedicle, peduncle, tail, train, flap, skirt, pigtail, pony tail, pendulum, hangnail peg, knob, button, hook, nail, stud, ring, staple, tenterhook, fastening, spar, horse, pendent, pendulous, pensile, hanging, beetling, jutting over, overhanging, projecting, dependent, suspended, loose, flowing, having a peduncle, pedunculate, tailed, caudate.

N  circularity, roundness, rotundity, circle, circlet, ring, areola, hoop, roundlet, annulus, annulet, bracelet, armlet, ringlet, eye, loop, wheel, cycle, orb, orbit, rundle, zone, belt, cordon, band, contrate wheel, crown wheel, hub, nave, sash, girdle, cestus, cincture, baldric, fillet, fascia, wreath, garland, crown, corona, coronet, chaplet, snood, necklace, collar, noose, lasso, lassoo, ellipse, oval, ovule, ellipsoid, cycloid, epicycloid, epicycle, semicircle, quadrant, sextant, sector, sphere, round, rounded, circular, annular, orbicular, oval, ovate, elliptic, elliptical, egg-shaped, pear-shaped, cycloidal, spherical, I watched the little circles die.

N  resonance, ring, ringing, tintinabulation, reflexion, reflection, reverberation, echo, reecho, zap, zot, buzz (hiss), low note, base note, bass note, flat note, grave note, deep note, bass, basso, basso profondo, baritone, barytone, contralto, echo chamber, resonator, tinnitus, bell, doorbell, buzzer, gong, cymbals (musical instruments), sympathetic vibrations, natural frequency, coupled vibration frequency, overtone, resonating cavity, sounding board, tuning fork, tuning, squelch, frequency selection, resonator, resonator circuit, radio resonant structure, aromaticity, alternating double bonds, non-bonded resonance, pi clouds, unsaturation, double bond, (valence), resounding, resonant, reverberant, tinnient, tintinnabulary, sonorous, booming, deep-toned, deep-sounding, deep-mouthed, vibrant, hollow, sepulchral, gruff, sweet bells jangled, out of time and harsh, echoing down the mountain and through the dell.

VB  resound, reverberate, reecho, resonate, ring, jingle, gingle, chink, clink, tink, tinkle, chime, gurgle, plash, goggle, echo, ring in the ear.

N  experiment, essay, analysis, screen, trial, tentative method, t=atonnement, verification, probation, experimentum crucis, proof, (demonstration), criterion, diagnostic, test, probe, crucial test, acid test, litmus test, crucible, reagent, check, touchstone, pix, assay, ordeal, ring, litmus paper, curcuma paper, turmeric paper, test tube, analytical instruments, empiricism, rule of thumb, feeler, trial balloon, pilot balloon, messenger balloon, pilot engine, scout, straw to show the wind, speculation, random shot, leap in the dark, analyzer, analyst, assayist, adventurer, experimenter, experimentist, experimentalist, scientist, engineer, technician, subject, experimentee, guinea pig, experimental animal, protocol, experimental method, blind experiment, double-blind experiment, controlled experiment, poll, survey, opinion poll, epidemiological survey, retrospective analysis, retrospective survey, prospective survey, prospective analysis, statistical analysis, literature search, library research, tryout, audition, discovery, measurement, evidence, deduction, induction, abduction, experimental, empirical, probative, probatory, probationary, provisional, analytic, docimastic, tentative, unverified, unproven, speculative, untested, on trial, under examination, on probation, under probation, on one's trial, on approval, check it out, give it a try, see how it goes, Run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.

anchor ring, annual ring, bearing ring, benzene ring, boxing ring, brass ring, coffee ring, curtain ring, engagement ring, fairy ring, gas ring, growth ring, heterocyclic ring, kayser-fleischer ring, key ring, life ring, lock ring, mourning ring, napkin ring, nose ring, o ring, parhelic ring, pinion and ring gear, piston ring, prize ring, ring armature, ring armor, ring armour, ring blackbird, ring containment, ring dance, ring disease, ring finger, ring girl, ring in, ring lardner, ring mail, ring of color, ring out, ring ouzel, ring road, ring rot, ring rot bacteria, ring rot fungus, ring snake, ring thrush, ring up, ring vaccination, ring winding, seal ring, signet ring, slinger ring, slip ring, snap ring, storage ring, sweet-potato ring rot, teething ring, towel ring, vortex ring, wedding ring, whiskey ring, whisky ring, wrestling ring