Pronunciation: i ŋ also ē ŋ ; in some dialects & in other dialects informally in, ə n also ē n; after certain consonants ə n, ə m, ə ŋ
Function: noun suffix
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English -ung, -ing, suffix forming nouns from verbs; akin to Old High German -ung, suffix forming nouns from verbs
1 : action or process <runn ing > <sleep ing > : instance of an action or process <a meet ing >
2 a : product or result of an action or process <an engrav ing > ― often in plural <earn ings > b : something used in an action or process <a bed cover ing > <the lin ing of a coat>
3 : action or process connected with (a specified thing) <boat ing >
4 : something connected with, consisting of, or used in making (a specified thing) <scaffold ing > <shirt ing >
5 : something related to (a specified concept) <off ing >