-ing /ɪŋ/ BrE AmE suffix
[ Sense 1: Date: 1100-1200 ; Language: Old English ; Origin: -ende ]
[ Sense 2: Language: Old English ; Origin: -ing , -ung ]
1 . forms the present participle of verbs:
They’re dancing.
to go dancing
a dancing bear
2 . [in uncountable nouns] the action or process of doing something:
She hates swimming.
No parking.
3 . [in countable nouns]
a) an example of doing something:
to hold a meeting
b) a product or result of doing something:
a beautiful painting
4 . [in nouns] something used to do something or used for making something:
a silk lining
ten metres of curtaining (=cloth for curtains)