v. & n.
v.tr. (past and past part. wrung) 1 a squeeze tightly. b (often foll. by out) squeeze and twist esp. to remove liquid. 2 twist forcibly; break by twisting. 3 distress or torture. 4 extract by squeezing. 5 (foll. by out, from) obtain by pressure or importunity; extort.
n. an act of wringing; a squeeze. wring a person's hand clasp it forcibly or press it with emotion. wring one's hands clasp them as a gesture of great distress. wring the neck of kill (a chicken etc.) by twisting its neck.
[ OE wringan, rel. to WRONG ]