I. ˈdiŋˌdȯŋ, -ˌdäŋ noun
Etymology: imitative
1. : the ringing sound produced by or as if by repeated strokes on a bell or some other metallic object — often used in oral imitation of such a sound
hark! now I hear them, dingdong bell — Shakespeare
the bell goes dingdong
2. : a bell or other metallic object (as a steel triangle) that makes a ringing sound
every Monday mawnin', when the dingdong sounds — Midnight Special
3. : a verse or poem having a singsong monotonous character : jingle
who would hold the order of the almanac so fast but for the dingdong , “thirty days hath September, etc.” — R.W.Emerson
II. ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ adverb
: with zeal : earnestly or heartily
fell to work dingdong
III. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ intransitive verb
1. : to make a dingdong sound
heard the whistle wail mournfully, heard the bell dingdonging — A.W.Somerville
2.
a. : to repeat an action with monotonous or mechanical regularity
a good engineer …, but not adjusted to dingdonging up and down the river at all — Richard Bissell
b. : to talk, urge, or scold tediously or insistently : din
kept on dingdonging in my ears — W.H.Hudson †1922
IV. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ adjective
1. : of, belonging to, or resembling the ringing sound made by a bell or other metallic object
the dingdong chime of cathedral bells
2. : marked by a rapid exchange or alternation (as of blows)
six weeks of dingdong fighting with heavy tank and infantry losses — Arthur Davies
— often used of a close contest or competition
a dingdong struggle in which both players were reaching great heights — Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald