I. ˈriŋ verb
( wrung ˈrəŋ ; wrung ; wringing ; wrings )
Etymology: Middle English wringen, from Old English wringan; akin to Middle Dutch wringen to wring, Old High German ringan to strain, wrestle, struggle — more at worry
transitive verb
1.
a. : to compress by squeezing or twisting especially so as to make dry or to extract moisture or liquid
wring the laundry dry
wring berries for wine
b. obsolete : to subject to extortion or coercion : squeeze , oppress
2.
a. : to extract or obtain by or as if by twisting and compressing
humidity … is wrung out by the gallon — Jim Riggs
b. : to exact or acquire by violence or coercion, against resistance, or with difficulty
had to wring whatever we've had out of barren ground — Ellen Glasgow
wealth … wrung from the work of others — Bruce Marshall
wring trade concessions from local rulers — Stringfellow Barr
a confession was wrung from him — Harry Silver
c. : to bring to a specified state by or as if by compressing and squeezing : drain
never one to let an issue pass until it has been wrung dry — Cabell Phillips
her voice was wrung of its … richness — Virginia Woolf
3.
a. : to twist with a forcible or violent wrenching motion : twist so as to strain or sprain
wring his neck
: to twist (as a face) into a distorted shape : contort , screw
a smile wrung his lips — Ellen Glasgow
b. : to twist together (clasped hands) as a sign of anguish, despair, or disapproval
she wrung her hands in mock despair — Oscar Wilde
wringing your hands and complaining about the poor preparation of the students — J.B.Conant
c. : to bend or twist out of position or course
a gust of wind wrung the sailboat to the side
4. : to place, position, or insert by a twisting or writhing movement
two blocks are wrung side by side on an optical flat — C.E.Haven & A.G.Strang
wring or tap them into the holes — H.D.Burghardt & Aaron Axelrod
5. : to affect painfully by or as if by a pinching, squeezing, twisting, or contorting action : cause distress or anguish to : rack , torment , torture
bumping over the rutted roads wrung her stomach muscles — Adria Langley
where the shoe wrings him
the plight of these people is a human tragedy which wrings the heart — H.G.Rickover
6. : to shake (a hand) vigorously, tightly, or heartily as a greeting or a sign of affection
wrung his hand like a pump handle — English Digest
also : to wring the hand of
7. : wreathe , coil
intransitive verb
1. : to twist and turn especially in pain, discomfort, or anguish : squirm , writhe
wrings at some distress — Shakespeare
2. : to undergo pain or anguish
Synonyms: see wrench
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from wringen to wring
: the act or process of wringing