ring - definition and synonyms


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  1. 1
    [countable] a piece of jewellery in the form of a circle that you wear on a finger

    a gold ring

    ring on:

    She had a ring on every finger.

     Synonyms and related words
    1. b.
      a line or shape that forms a ring

      She had black rings round her eyes from tiredness.

    2. c.
      a piece of metal with a number on it that is put around the leg of a bird so that you can recognize it again later
    3. d.
      a group of people or things that form a ring
      ring of:

      He glanced round the ring of faces waiting for him to speak.

      in a ring (=arranged in the shape of the edge of a circle):

      They sat in a ring around the fire.

  2. 2
    [countable] a sound produced by a phone when someone calls you

    He answered on the first ring.

     Synonyms and related words
  3. 3

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    the sound that a bell produces

    He was interrupted by the ring of the doorbell.

     Synonyms and related words
    1. a.
      [countable] an act of making a bell produce a sound

      Impatiently she gave another ring of the doorbell.

    2. b.
      [singular] a sound like a bell

      The ring of his hammer echoed round the square.

       Synonyms and related words
  4. 5
    [countable] a flat circle heated by gas or electricity on the top of a cooker
  5. 7
    [singular] a particular quality that something such as a statement seems to have

    Her account has a ring of authenticity about it.

    have a ring of truth:

    His version of events had a ring of truth.

    have a familiar ring:

    This story may have a familiar ring to it.

See also