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ring

ring

203 1.0
The sound a bell or phone makes when struck
  • noun
  • /rɪŋ/
translation icon : sonido
  • You don 't answer by the fourth ring... ...that's the end of the game.

Examples

  • (school bell rings)

  • And suddenly the doorbell rings... and the whole setup is right there in the room with you.

  • Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring.

  • The TV drones on in the background as the phone rings; everyone leaps into action again.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The alarm clock's little ring brought me back to my insipid daily reality.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Bridgetown residents were treated to the sound of St. Michael's ring of eight bells every holy day.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Instead of applause, I hear the faint high ring of a tiny mechanical insect: Tinnitus.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • [bell rings]

  • (Phones ring)

  • When the phone rings, I immediately know it is my friend calling.

Synonyms

bell
vsring
221 1.0

A clear ringing sound made by a struck metal object

is the general sound from many objects, not just that instrument
ringing
vsring
133 1.0

A clear loud sound a bell or similar thing makes when hit

is the general sound for many objects, not only that one
ding
vsring
49 3.7

A short high sound like a small bell, for example a notification tone

is the general struck sound that can be longer or deeper
chime
vsring
23 1.7

A clear musical ringing sound made by a bell or a set of bells

is broader, not necessarily musical or tuned in quality
ringtone
vsring
21 2.0

A short sound that plays on a phone when someone calls or messages you

refers to the basic alert sound, not a full melody choice
toll
vsring
20 6.3

The slow deep sound a bell makes when hit

is any struck or activated sound, not specifically slow or repeated
ping
vsring
18 6.4

A short, sharp high sound like metal being struck

is the general bell or alert sound rather than an echo tone
dong
vsring
9 5.8

A deep sound a large bell or clock makes when it rings

is any pitch and size of struck sound, not only low tones
ding-dong
vsring
1 3.6

A repeated ringing sound a bell makes

can be a single or varied sound rather than this repetition
bell ringing
vsring
1 3.3

A sound made by bells during a ceremony or musical performance

covers single or simple sounds as well as musical sets
bing
vsring
1 7.7

A short high sound made by a phone or microwave

covers natural and electronic struck sounds, not only brief ones
tintinnabulation
vsring
  • Archaic
9.9

A light ringing sound made by bells or wind chimes

is the wider category of bell sounds rather than delicate tinkling
Ding Dongs
vsring
4.2

Clear ringing sounds that bells make

is the general bell sound and may be single or different
bell-like call
vsring
  • Texting
3.7

A short bell sound on a phone or app that signals a message

is a broader alarm or bell sound not limited to devices
ching
vsring
8.9

A short sharp ringing sound made when metal or glass hits something

is the broader struck sound class, not limited to sharp clashes

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

45 1.0

A calm time with little or no sound

Idioms

to ring a bell
  • Informal
57 3.5

To seem familiar and make you remember something

To say you will run for a position, for example in an election

8.9

To show too much respect and do what a person in power wants

To fill the air with loud happy sounds like singing or laughter

Keep a wedding ring safely until it is needed in the ceremony

5.4

Make someone think there may be a problem

To start a show by lifting the curtain

Compounds

87 1.0

A metal band worn to show two people are married

A ring with a stone like a diamond given to someone to show they will marry

11 3.8

A small metal piece worn through the nose for decoration or to control an animal

10 1.0

The finger between the middle finger and little finger where people often wear wedding rings

6 1.0

A small metal ring that holds keys together

5 1.9

A square area with ropes where boxers fight

3 3.6

A small ring that holds a person's napkin at the table

3 2.4

A folder with rings that open to hold loose sheets of paper

brass ring
  • Informal
2 7.4

A chance to get great success or a big reward

cock ring
  • Offensive
2 9.8

A ring worn around the penis base to help keep an erection by reducing blood flow

2 3.2

A main road that goes around a city to avoid the center

2 5.4

A situation with confusion and many things happening at once

1 1.4

A small metal or plastic loop that hangs a curtain on a rod

1 2.7

A round object you throw to someone in water to help them float

1 6.5

A ring with a carved seal used to stamp wax to show who owned or approved a document

1 5.3

A group of people who secretly run illegal betting, like on sports or card games

growth ring
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A layer of wood made in one year that appears as a ring in a tree trunk

ring ceremony
  • Formal
1 4.6

A formal event where students receive a class ring to mark graduation

1 7.6

A young woman who walks into the boxing ring between rounds holding a sign with the next round number

A small animal from Madagascar with a long tail that has black and white rings

O-ring
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A round rubber or plastic ring that seals a joint to stop leaks

A small ring that babies chew to soothe sore gums

A square platform with ropes where two people try to make each other fall

1 7.7

A ring of mushrooms that grows on grass from fungus under the ground

benzene ring
  • Specialized
1 5.4

A ring of six carbon atoms, each joined to a hydrogen, found in many organic molecules

key ring
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A secure place on a computer that stores passwords and secret codes for apps and the system

1 3.2

A metal ring on a gas stove that makes a flame for cooking

Kayser-Fleischer ring
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A golden-brown or green ring at the edge of the clear front of the eye seen in Wilson's disease

prize ring
  • Archaic
1 4.9

A square area with ropes where boxers fight

1 9.9

A type of flexible armor made of small metal rings linked together

1 6.0

A children's game where players hold hands, walk in a circle, and fall down while singing

piston ring
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A thin metal band that fits around a piston to stop gas and oil leaking past it

1 1.9

A round hoop on a wall for hanging a towel

3.6

A ring-shaped cake often made with fruit or nuts and topped with icing

coffee ring
  • Specialized
6.4

A ring-shaped mark that appears at the edge of a liquid drop as it dries

closed-ring
  • Specialized
7.7

Having atoms joined together to form a ring

7.0

A ring that you put at the base of the penis to slow blood flow and help keep it hard

anchor ring
  • Specialized
7.7

A doughnut-shaped solid with a hole in the middle

A ring of wood in a tree trunk that shows one year's growth

A mushroom that grows in a circle on grass

lock ring
  • Specialized
5.8

A small round ring that keeps a nut from coming loose

A ring with a picture of the cartoon mouse Mickey Mouse

mourning ring
  • Archaic
9.9

A ring people wear to remember a dead person, often with writing or hair

heterocyclic ring
  • Specialized
8.1

A ring of atoms in a molecule with at least one non-carbon atom

ring containment
  • Specialized
7.4

A way to stop disease by giving vaccines to people exposed and their close contacts

A group of people who form a circle and dance together, often holding hands

ring disease
  • Specialized
7.7

An illness of plants like tomatoes and potatoes caused by bacteria that makes dark rings in the stem

ring armor
  • Archaic
9.9

Flexible protective clothing made from small metal rings linked together

A black thrush with a white band around its neck that lives on rocky hills

ring rot bacteria
  • Specialized
6.5

Bacteria that cause a disease making crops like potatoes and tomatoes go soft and brown

ring rot fungus
  • Specialized
8.0

A small living thing that makes fruits and vegetables rot, often making dry rings near sweet potato roots

ring rot
  • Specialized
7.9

A disease caused by bacteria that makes potato and tomato stems or tubers rot in a ring

A small circular area of color on the skin around a bite or wound

9.9

A European bird often found on rocky hills with dark feathers and a white band on the male's neck

6.9

A harmless snake with a bright ring around its neck found in North America or Europe

ring vaccination
  • Specialized
3.7

Vaccinating people who were close to someone who had the disease to stop it spreading

ring wall
  • Specialized
6.9

A circular strong wall built under a heavy structure to support its weight

ring wall
  • Specialized
7.5

A circular wall around a village or town that protects people from attack

4.6

A low circular wall that keeps soil in place around plants

ring-a-rosy
  • Baby Talk
9.9

A children's game where players hold hands, move in a circle and fall down together

9.9

A European bird whose male has dark feathers and a white band around the neck

ring-around-a-rosy
  • Baby Talk
8.0

A children's game where players hold hands in a circle, sing, and fall down

A large green parrot with a ring of colour around its neck

A common bird with bright feathers and a white ring on its neck

A small harmless snake with a yellow or orange ring around its neck

With a tail that has clear dark and light bands

An animal like a raccoon that has a long bushy tail with black and white rings

ring-stalked fungus
  • Specialized
9.9

A mushroom with gills and a ring on its stem that makes brown spores

parhelic ring
  • Specialized
9.9

A bright ring across the sky at the same height as the sun formed when sunlight passes through ice crystals

pinion and ring gear
  • Specialized
8.0

Gears that fit together at a right angle to send power between car axles

7.0

A ring with a carved top you press into wax to make a mark

5.8

A raised circle where sumo wrestlers fight

sweet-potato ring rot
  • Specialized
7.9

A disease that makes rings of dry rot on sweet potato roots

How Loud

peal
4 5.8
clang
28 3.9
ring
203 1.0
to chime
61 3.0
to tinkle
15 3.9

Surface Forms

ring singular
rings plural

Etymology

Ring for the sound comes from the clear noise a bell makes, so the 'ring' of a bell or phone is the sharp sound you hear when it is struck.