[rɪŋ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a small circular band, typically of precious metal and often set with one or more gemstones, worn on a finger as an ornament or a token of marriage, engagement, or authority
(e.g: a diamond ring)

- a ring-shaped or circular object
(e.g: an inflatable rubber ring)

- an enclosed space, surrounded by seating for spectators, in which a sport, performance, or show takes place
(e.g: a circus ring)

- a group of people engaged in a shared enterprise, especially one involving illegal or unscrupulous activity
(e.g: the police had been investigating the drug ring)

- a number of atoms bonded together to form a closed loop in a molecule
(e.g: a benzene ring)

- a set of elements with two binary operations, addition and multiplication, the second being distributive over the first and associative


Phrases:
- hold the ring
- run rings round someone

Origin:
Old English hring, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ring, German Ring, also to the noun rank

[rɪŋ], (Verb)

Definitions:
- surround (someone or something), especially for protection or containment
(e.g: the courthouse was ringed with police)

- put an aluminium strip round the leg of (a bird) for subsequent identification
(e.g: only a small proportion of warblers are caught and ringed)

- fraudulently change the identity of (a motor vehicle), typically by changing its registration plate
(e.g: there may be an organization which has ringed the stolen car to be resold)



Phrases:
- hold the ring
- run rings round someone

Origin:
Old English hring, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ring, German Ring, also to the noun rank

[rɪŋ], (Verb)

Definitions:
- make a clear resonant or vibrating sound
(e.g: a bell rang loudly)

- call by telephone
(e.g: I rang her this morning)

- (of a person's ears) be filled with a continuous buzzing or humming sound, especially as the after-effect of a blow or loud noise
(e.g: he yelled so loudly that my eardrums rang)


Phrases:
- ring down the curtain
- ring in one's ears
- ring off the hook
- ring up the curtain

Origin:
Old English hringan, of Germanic origin, perhaps imitative

[rɪŋ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- an act of ringing a bell, or the resonant sound caused by this
(e.g: there was a ring at the door)

- a particular quality conveyed by something heard or expressed
(e.g: the song had a curious ring of nostalgia to it)


Phrases:
- ring down the curtain
- ring in one's ears
- ring off the hook
- ring up the curtain

Origin:
Old English hringan, of Germanic origin, perhaps imitative