Definition of ring1

ring1noun

vòng1

/rɪŋ//rɪŋ/

Word OriginOld English hring, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ring, German Ring, also to the noun rank.

jewellery

a piece of jewellery that you wear on your finger, consisting of a round band of gold, silver, etc., sometimes decorated with precious stones

Example:
  • a gold ring
  • a diamond ring (= a ring with a diamond on it)
  • He was wearing a ring on his middle finger.
  • Her mother gave her a beautiful ring.
Extra examples:
  • He slipped the ring on her finger.
  • I pulled the small ring box out of my pocket.
  • They exchange rings and wedding vows.
  • She kissed the great ring of the archbishop of Chicago.
  • He has earned three Super Bowl rings in the last four years.

Related words and phrases

circle

an object in the shape of a circle with a large hole in the middle

Example:
  • a key ring
  • curtain rings
  • the rings of Saturn
  • The villagers were literally surrounded by a ring of fire.
Extra examples:
  • a plate of onion rings
  • His right ear sported a gold ring.
  • He can blow smoke rings.

Related words and phrases

a round mark or shape

Example:
  • She had dark rings around her eyes from lack of sleep.
  • The children sat on the floor in a ring.
  • The army formed a protective ring around the presidential palace.
Extra examples:
  • The children formed a ring around their teacher.
  • The street plan of the city has evolved as a series of concentric rings.
  • He had dark rings around his eyes.
  • She drew a neat blue ring around the phone number.
for performance/competition

an area in which animals or people perform or compete, with seats around the outside for the audience

Example:
  • a boxing ring
  • a circus ring
  • The next competitor rode into the ring.
Extra examples:
  • He entered the ring wearing his usual outfit.
  • He was back in the ring only a month after the injury.

Related words and phrases

for cooking

a small flat place on a cooker that is heated by gas or electricity and is used for cooking on

Example:
  • to turn off the gas ring
  • I put the saucepan on the ring.

Related words and phrases

group of people

a group of people who are working together, especially in secret or illegally

Example:
  • a spy ring
  • a drugs ring
Extra examples:
  • The four men are accused of running a drug smuggling ring.
  • Customs officials have broken up a major drug ring.

Idioms

the brass ring
(North American English, informal)the opportunity to be successful; success that you have worked hard to get
  • The girls' outdoor track team has grabbed the brass ring seven times.
    • run rings around/round somebody
    (informal)to be much better at doing something than somebody else
  • I used to beat my son at chess but now he runs rings around me.
    • throw your hat into the ring
    to announce officially that you are going to compete in an election, a competition, etc.