— singable , adj. — singability, singableness , n. — singingly , adv.
/sing/ , v. , sang or, often, sung; sung; singing; n.
v.i.
1. to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically.
2. to perform a song or voice composition: She promised to sing for us.
3. to produce melodious sounds, usually high in pitch, as certain birds, insects, etc.: The nightingale sang in the tree.
4. to compose poetry: Keats sang briefly but gloriously.
5. to tell about or praise someone or something in verse or song: He sang of the warrior's prowess.
6. to admit of being sung, as verses: This lyric sings well.
7. to give out a continuous ringing, whistling, murmuring, burbling, or other euphonious sound, as a teakettle or a brook.
8. to make a short whistling, ringing, or whizzing sound: The bullet sang past his ear.
9. (of an electrical amplifying system) to produce an undesired self-sustained oscillation.
10. to have the sensation of a ringing or humming sound, as the ears.
11. Slang. to confess or act as an informer; squeal.
v.t.
12. to utter with musical modulations of the voice, as a song.
13. to escort or accompany with singing.
14. to proclaim enthusiastically.
15. to bring, send, put, etc., with or by singing: She sang the baby to sleep.
16. to chant or intone: to sing mass.
17. to tell or praise in verse or song.
18. sing out , Informal. to call in a loud voice; shout: They lost their way in the cavern and sang out for help.
n.
19. the act or performance of singing.
20. a gathering or meeting of persons for the purpose of singing: a community sing.
21. a singing, ringing, or whistling sound, as of a bullet.
[ bef. 900; ME singen, OE singan; c. D zingen, G singen, ON syngva, Goth siggwan ]