RING

v. & n. --v. (past rang; past part. rung) 1 intr. (often foll. by out etc.) give a clear resonant or vibrating sound of or as of a bell (a shot rang out; a ringing laugh; the telephone rang). 2 tr. a make (esp. a bell) ring. b (absol.) call for service or attention by ringing a bell (you rang, madam?). 3 tr. (also absol.; often foll. by up) Brit. call by telephone (will ring you on Monday; did you ring?). 4 intr. (usu. foll. by with, to) (of a place) resound or be permeated with a sound, or an attribute, e.g. fame (the theatre rang with applause). 5 intr. (of the ears) be filled with a sensation of ringing. 6 tr. a sound (a peal etc.) on bells. b (of a bell) sound (the hour etc.). 7 tr. (foll. by in, out) usher in or out with bell-ringing (ring in the May; rang out the Old Year). 8 intr. (of sentiments etc.) convey a specified impression (words rang hollow). --n. 1 a ringing sound or tone. 2 a the act of ringing a bell. b the sound caused by this. 3 colloq. a telephone call (give me a ring). 4 a specified feeling conveyed by an utterance (had a melancholy ring). 5 a set of esp. church bells. øring back make a return telephone call to (a person who has telephoned earlier). ring a bell see BELL(1). ring the changes (on) see CHANGE. ring down (or up) the curtain 1 cause the curtain to be lowered or raised. 2 (foll. by on) mark the end or the beginning of (an enterprise etc.). ring in 1 report or make contact by telephone. 2 Austral. & NZ sl. substitute fraudulently. ring in one's ears (or heart etc.) linger in the memory. ringing tone a sound heard by a telephone caller when the number dialled is being rung. ring off Brit. end a telephone call by replacing the receiver. ring true (or false) convey an impression of truth or falsehood. ring up 1 Brit. call by telephone. 2 record (an amount etc.) on a cash register. øøringed adj. (also in comb.). ringer n. ringing adj. ringingly adv. [OE hringan]