/ ˈdɪŋ; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
( NAmE ) a blow, especially one that causes slight damage to a car, etc. :
I got a ding in my rear fender.
2.
used to represent the sound made by a bell :
The lift came to a halt with a loud 'ding'.
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
to make a sound like a bell :
The computer just dings when I press a key.
2.
( NAmE ) to cause slight damage to a car, etc. :
I dinged my passenger door.
3.
( NAmE ) to hit sb :
( figurative )
My department got dinged by the budget cuts.
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WORD ORIGIN
noun sense 2 and verb sense 1 early 17th cent.: imitative.
noun sense 1 and verb senses 2 to 3 Middle English : probably of Scandinavian origin; compare with Danish dænge beat, bang.