ring

I [[t]rɪ̱ŋ[/t]] TELEPHONING OR MAKING A SOUND

♦♦

rings, ringing, rang, rung

(Please look at category 11 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.)

1) VERB When you ring someone, you telephone them. [mainly BRIT]

[V n] He rang me at my mother's...

[V n] If you'd like more information, ring the Hotline on 414 3929...

I would ring when I got back to the hotel...

[V adv] She has rung home just once...

[V for n] Could someone ring for a taxi?

Syn:

phone

PHRASAL VERB

Ring up means the same as .

V n P You can ring us up anytime... V P John rang up and invited himself over for dinner... V P about n A few months ago I rang up about some housing problems... V P n (not pron) Nobody rings up a doctor in the middle of the night for no reason.

(in AM, usually use <

2) VERB When a telephone rings, it makes a sound to let you know that someone is phoning you.

As soon as he got home, the phone rang...

The phone never stopped ringing.

Derived words:

ringing N-UNCOUNT

She was jolted out of her sleep by the ringing of the telephone.

N-COUNT

Ring is also a noun.

After at least eight rings, an ancient-sounding maid answered the phone.

3) V-ERG When you ring a bell or when a bell rings, it makes a sound.

He heard the school bell ring...

[V n] The door was opened before she could ring the bell.

Derived words:

ringing N-UNCOUNT

...the ringing of church bells.

N-COUNT

Ring is also a noun.

There was a ring at the bell.

4) VERB If you ring for something, you ring a bell to call someone to bring it to you. If you ring for someone, you ring a bell so that they will come to you.

[V for n] Shall I ring for a fresh pot of tea?...

[V for n] He rang for the guard to let him out.

5) VERB If you say that a place is ringing with sound, usually pleasant sound, you mean that the place is completely filled with that sound. [LITERARY]

[V with n] The whole place was ringing with music. [Also V]

6) N-SING: usu a adj N You can use the word ring to describe a quality that something such as a statement, discussion, or argument seems to have. For example, if an argument has a familiar ring, it seems familiar.

His proud boast of leading `the party of low taxation' has a hollow ring.

Syn:

feel

7) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that someone rings the changes, you mean that they make changes or improvements to the way something is organized or done.

Ring the changes by adding spices, dried fruit or olives.

8) PHRASE: V and N inflect If you say that someone's words ring in your ears or ring in your head, you mean that you remember them very clearly, usually when you would prefer to forget them. [LITERARY]

She shivered as the sound of that man's abuse rang in her ears.

9) PHRASE: V inflects If you give someone a ring, you phone them. [mainly BRIT, INFORMAL]

We'll give him a ring as soon as we get back.

(in AM, usually use call)

10) PHRASE: V inflects If a statement rings true, it seems to be true or genuine. If it rings hollow, it does not seem to be true or genuine.

Joanna's denial rang true...

The rumpus has made all the optimistic statements about unity and harmony ring a little hollow.

11) to ring a bell → see bell

Phrasal Verbs:

- ring around

- ring back

- ring in

- ring off

- ring out

- ring round

- ring around

- ring up

II [[t]rɪ̱ŋ[/t]] SHAPES AND GROUPS

♦♦♦

rings, ringing, ringed

1) N-COUNT A ring is a small circle of metal or other substance that you wear on your finger as jewellery.

She wore several diamond rings.

...a gold wedding ring.

2) N-COUNT: usu with supp An object or substance that is in the shape of a circle can be described as a ring.

Frank took a large ring of keys from his pocket.

...a ring of blue smoke.

3) N-COUNT: usu with supp A group of people or things arranged in a circle can be described as a ring.

They then formed a ring around the square.

...grilled fish surrounded by a ring of thinly cut carrots.

Syn:

circle

4) N-COUNT: usu supp N A gas or electric ring is one of the small flat areas on top of a stove which heat up and which you use for cooking. [mainly BRIT]

(in AM, usually use burner)

5) N-COUNT: usu with supp At a boxing or wrestling match or a circus, the ring is the place where the contest or performance takes place. It consists of an enclosed space with seats round it.

He will never again be allowed inside a British boxing ring.

6) N-COUNT: usu n N You can refer to an organized group of people who are involved in an illegal activity as a ring.

Police are investigating the suspected drug ring at the school.

...an international spy ring.

7) VERB: usu passive If a building or place is ringed with or by something, it is surrounded by it.

[be V-ed] The areas are sealed off and ringed by troops.

Syn:

surrounded

8) VERB If you ring a bird, you put a small metal ring around its leg so that you can identify it and study its movements and habits. [mainly BRIT]

[V n] He demonstrated his techniques for ringing birds.

(in AM, usually use tag)

9) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that someone runs rings round you or runs rings around you, you mean that they are a lot better or a lot more successful than you at a particular activity. [INFORMAL]

Mentally, he can still run rings round men half his age!