ring
box|ing ring (boxing rings)
[N-COUNT]
A boxing ring is a raised square platform with ropes around it in which boxers fight.en|gage|ment ring (engagement rings)
[N-COUNT]
An engagement ring is a ring worn by a woman when she is engaged to be married.gas ring (gas rings)
[N-COUNT]
A gas ring is a metal device on top of a cooker or stove, where you can burn gas in order to cook food on it. (BRIT; in AM, use burner)key ring (key rings)
also keyring
[N-COUNT]
A key ring is a metal ring which you use to keep your keys together. You pass the ring through the holes in your keys.nap|kin ring (napkin rings)
[N-COUNT]
A napkin ring is a ring-shaped object which is used to hold a rolled-up napkin.ring around
see ring roundring back
[PHRASAL VERB] no passive, V P, V n P
If you ring someone back, you phone them either because they phoned you earlier and you were not there or because you did not finish an earlier telephone conversation. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use call back)
Tell her I'll ring back in a few minutes...
If there's any problem I'll ring you back.ring bind|er (ring binders)
[N-COUNT]
A ring binder is a file with hard covers, which you can insert pages into. The pages are held in by metal rings on a bar attached to the inside of the file.ring fin|ger (ring fingers)
[N-COUNT]
Your ring finger is the third finger of your left or right hand, without counting your thumb. In some countries, people wear a ring on this finger to show that they are engaged or married.ring in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you ring in, you phone a place, such as the place where you work. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use call in)
Cecil wasn't there, having rung in to say he was taking the day off.ring off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
When you ring off, you put down the receiver at the end of a telephone call. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use hang up)
She had rung off before he could press her for an answer.ring out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If a sound rings out, it can be heard loudly and clearly.
A single shot rang out.ring road (ring roads)
[N-COUNT]
A ring road is a road that goes round the edge of a town so that traffic does not have to go through the town centre. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use beltway)ring round
or ring around
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron)
If you ring round or ring around, you phone several people, usually when you are trying to organize something or to find some information. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use call around)
She'd ring around and get back to me...
She immediately started ringing round her friends and relatives.ring tone (ring tones)
[N-COUNT]
The ring tone is the sound made by a telephone, especially a mobile phone, when it rings.
They offer 70 hours' standby time, 2hr 50min talk time, and 15 ring tones.ring up
1
see ring 1
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If a shop assistant rings up a sale on a cash register, he or she presses the keys in order to record the amount that is being spent.
She was ringing up her sale on an ancient cash register.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If a company rings up an amount of money, usually a large amount of money, it makes that amount of money in sales or profits.
The advertising agency rang up 1.4 billion dollars in yearly sales.♦♦ ring1 /r'ɪŋ/ (ring rings ringing rang rung) TELEPHONING OR MAKING A SOUND
Please look at category 11 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 [VERB] V n, V, V adv, V for n
When you ring someone, you telephone them. (mainly BRIT)
He rang me at my mother's...
I would ring when I got back to the hotel...
She has rung home just once...
Could someone ring for a taxi?
= phone
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P, V P about n, V P n (not pron)
Ring up means the same as ring. (in AM, usually use call)
You can ring us up anytime...
John rang up and invited himself over for dinner...
A few months ago I rang up about some housing problems...
Nobody rings up a doctor in the middle of the night for no reason.
2 [VERB] V
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...
[N-COUNT]
Ring is also a noun.
After at least eight rings, an ancient-sounding maid answered the phone.
● ringing [N-UNCOUNT]
She was jolted out of her sleep by the ringing of the telephone.
3 [VERB] V, V n
When you ring a bell or when a bell rings, it makes a sound.
He heard the school bell ring...
The door was opened before she could ring the bell.
[N-COUNT]
Ring is also a noun.
There was a ring at the bell.
● ringing [N-UNCOUNT]
...the ringing of church bells.
4 [VERB] V for n
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.
Shall I ring for a fresh pot of tea?...
5 [VERB] V with n
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)
The whole place was ringing with music.
6 [N-SING] usu a adj N
You can use 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.
= 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; in AM, usually use call)
We'll give him a ring as soon as we get back.
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
see also ringing♦ ring2 /r'ɪŋ/ (ring rings ringing ringed) SHAPES AND GROUPS
1 [N-COUNT]
A ring is a small circle of metal or other substance that you wear on your finger as jewellery.
...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.
= 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.
7 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
If a building or place is ringed with or by something, it is surrounded by it.
The areas are sealed off and ringed by troops.
8 [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!sig|net ring /s'ɪgnət rɪŋ/ (signet rings)
[N-COUNT]
A signet ring is a ring which has a flat oval or circular section at the front with a pattern or letters carved into it.web ring (web rings)
also Web ring; webring
[N-COUNT]
A web ring is a set of related websites that you can visit one after the other. (COMPUTING)
Log on to the Hammer Web ring, with 12 more sites devoted to macabre movies.wed|ding ring (wedding rings)
[N-COUNT]
A wedding ring is a ring that you wear to show that you are married.
= wedding band
[N-COUNT]
A boxing ring is a raised square platform with ropes around it in which boxers fight.en|gage|ment ring (engagement rings)
[N-COUNT]
An engagement ring is a ring worn by a woman when she is engaged to be married.gas ring (gas rings)
[N-COUNT]
A gas ring is a metal device on top of a cooker or stove, where you can burn gas in order to cook food on it. (BRIT; in AM, use burner)key ring (key rings)
also keyring
[N-COUNT]
A key ring is a metal ring which you use to keep your keys together. You pass the ring through the holes in your keys.nap|kin ring (napkin rings)
[N-COUNT]
A napkin ring is a ring-shaped object which is used to hold a rolled-up napkin.ring around
see ring roundring back
[PHRASAL VERB] no passive, V P, V n P
If you ring someone back, you phone them either because they phoned you earlier and you were not there or because you did not finish an earlier telephone conversation. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use call back)
Tell her I'll ring back in a few minutes...
If there's any problem I'll ring you back.ring bind|er (ring binders)
[N-COUNT]
A ring binder is a file with hard covers, which you can insert pages into. The pages are held in by metal rings on a bar attached to the inside of the file.ring fin|ger (ring fingers)
[N-COUNT]
Your ring finger is the third finger of your left or right hand, without counting your thumb. In some countries, people wear a ring on this finger to show that they are engaged or married.ring in
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you ring in, you phone a place, such as the place where you work. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use call in)
Cecil wasn't there, having rung in to say he was taking the day off.ring off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
When you ring off, you put down the receiver at the end of a telephone call. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use hang up)
She had rung off before he could press her for an answer.ring out
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
If a sound rings out, it can be heard loudly and clearly.
A single shot rang out.ring road (ring roads)
[N-COUNT]
A ring road is a road that goes round the edge of a town so that traffic does not have to go through the town centre. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use beltway)ring round
or ring around
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron)
If you ring round or ring around, you phone several people, usually when you are trying to organize something or to find some information. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use call around)
She'd ring around and get back to me...
She immediately started ringing round her friends and relatives.ring tone (ring tones)
[N-COUNT]
The ring tone is the sound made by a telephone, especially a mobile phone, when it rings.
They offer 70 hours' standby time, 2hr 50min talk time, and 15 ring tones.ring up
1
see ring 1
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If a shop assistant rings up a sale on a cash register, he or she presses the keys in order to record the amount that is being spent.
She was ringing up her sale on an ancient cash register.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If a company rings up an amount of money, usually a large amount of money, it makes that amount of money in sales or profits.
The advertising agency rang up 1.4 billion dollars in yearly sales.♦♦ ring1 /r'ɪŋ/ (ring rings ringing rang rung) TELEPHONING OR MAKING A SOUND
Please look at category 11 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 [VERB] V n, V, V adv, V for n
When you ring someone, you telephone them. (mainly BRIT)
He rang me at my mother's...
I would ring when I got back to the hotel...
She has rung home just once...
Could someone ring for a taxi?
= phone
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P, V P about n, V P n (not pron)
Ring up means the same as ring. (in AM, usually use call)
You can ring us up anytime...
John rang up and invited himself over for dinner...
A few months ago I rang up about some housing problems...
Nobody rings up a doctor in the middle of the night for no reason.
2 [VERB] V
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...
[N-COUNT]
Ring is also a noun.
After at least eight rings, an ancient-sounding maid answered the phone.
● ringing [N-UNCOUNT]
She was jolted out of her sleep by the ringing of the telephone.
3 [VERB] V, V n
When you ring a bell or when a bell rings, it makes a sound.
He heard the school bell ring...
The door was opened before she could ring the bell.
[N-COUNT]
Ring is also a noun.
There was a ring at the bell.
● ringing [N-UNCOUNT]
...the ringing of church bells.
4 [VERB] V for n
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.
Shall I ring for a fresh pot of tea?...
5 [VERB] V with n
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)
The whole place was ringing with music.
6 [N-SING] usu a adj N
You can use 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.
= 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; in AM, usually use call)
We'll give him a ring as soon as we get back.
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
see also ringing♦ ring2 /r'ɪŋ/ (ring rings ringing ringed) SHAPES AND GROUPS
1 [N-COUNT]
A ring is a small circle of metal or other substance that you wear on your finger as jewellery.
...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.
= 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.
7 [VERB] usu passive, be V-ed
If a building or place is ringed with or by something, it is surrounded by it.
The areas are sealed off and ringed by troops.
8 [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!sig|net ring /s'ɪgnət rɪŋ/ (signet rings)
[N-COUNT]
A signet ring is a ring which has a flat oval or circular section at the front with a pattern or letters carved into it.web ring (web rings)
also Web ring; webring
[N-COUNT]
A web ring is a set of related websites that you can visit one after the other. (COMPUTING)
Log on to the Hammer Web ring, with 12 more sites devoted to macabre movies.wed|ding ring (wedding rings)
[N-COUNT]
A wedding ring is a ring that you wear to show that you are married.
= wedding band