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ringtone

ringtone

21 2.0
A short sound that plays on a phone when someone calls or messages you
  • noun
  • /ˈrɪŋtoʊn/
translation icon : tono de llamada
  • Bob sang, "Don't worry about a thing," which is my cell phone ringtone.
  • phone ringtone
  • cellphone ringtone
  • cell phone ringtone

You know that cricket ringtone they have on your iPhone?

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Examples

  • Some people have personalized ringtones for family members and friends.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Upon leaving, she leaned over my shoulder and said, "Thinking of changing your ringtone?"

    Blog text (16)
  • I love, love, love the video; in fact, that was our ringtone while we were building!

    Blog text (30)
  • You know that cricket ringtone they have on your iPhone?

  • I repeatedly heard my ringtone, and then I'd look at my phone and there would be nothing.

    Blog text (33)
  • Today we may hear all kinds of ringtones to signal us that someone is calling.

    Academic text (2007)
  • You can use a custom audio file as a notification sound or ringtone.

    Blog text (13)
  • - Mum, you've got a disco ringtone.

  • One Halloween, I changed my ringtone to be a maniacal laugh of the muh ha ha ha persuasion.

    Blog text (26)
  • Today we may hear all kinds of ringtones to signal us that someone is calling.

Synonyms

bell
vsringtone
221 1.0

A clear ringing sound made by a struck metal object

is an electronic phone alert usually shorter and more melodic than that ringing
ring
vsringtone
203 1.0

The sound a bell or phone makes when struck

is specifically a phone alert melody rather than any bell sound
ding
vsringtone
49 3.7

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

is usually a tune or melody used to alert calls or messages
chime
vsringtone
23 1.7

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

is focused on alerting calls and messages rather than pure musical tone
ding-dong
vsringtone
1 3.6

A repeated ringing sound a bell makes

is used on phones as varied melodies rather than repeated doorbell tones
bing
vsringtone
1 7.7

A short high sound made by a phone or microwave

is a longer or melodic phone alert rather than a single note
telephone bell
vsringtone
  • Archaic
2.1

A small electric bell that rings to tell someone about an incoming phone call

is a phone alert that can be a melody for calls or messages
bell-like call
vsringtone
  • Texting
3.7

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

is broader and often a chosen melody for incoming calls or messages

How Loud

alarm
842 1.0
ringtone
21 2.0
jingle
56 3.0
to chime
61 3.0
tone
128 4.1

Surface Forms

ringtone singular
ringtones plural

Morphology

ringtone = ring + tone (transparent) = ring + tone

The meaning ('a sound used to signal a phone call') is directly derived from the senses of 'ring' and 'tone' and follows a straightforward compound pattern.

Etymology

The word ringtone comes from the two simple words ring and tone, where ring is the sound a bell makes ('a call') and tone means 'a musical sound'. So a ringtone is the short musical sound a phone makes to tell you someone is calling.