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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

RING, n.
1. A circle, or a circular line, or any thing in the form of a circular line or hoop. Thus we say of men, they formed themselves into a ring, to see a wrestling match. Rings of gold were made for the ark. Exodus 25. Rings of gold or other material are worn on the fingers and sometimes in the ears, as ornaments.
2. A circular course.
Place me, O place me in the dusty ring, where youthful charioteers contend for glory.
RING, n. [from the verb.]
1. A sound; particularly, the sound of metals; as the ring of a bell.
2. Any loud sound, or the sounds of numerous voices; or sound continued, repeated or reverberated; as the ring of acclamations.
3. A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned.
RING, v.t. pret. and pp. rung.
To cause to sound, particularly by striking a metallic body; as, to ring a bell. This word expresses appropriately the sounding of metals.
RING, v.t. [from the noun.
1. To encircle.
2. To fit with rings, as the fingers, or as a swine's snout. Farmers ring swine to prevent their rooting.
And ring these fingers with thy household worms.
RING, v.i.
1. To sound, as a bell or other sonorous body, particularly a metallic one.
2. To practice the art of making music with bells.
3. To sound; to resound.
With sweeter notes each rising temple rung.
4. To utter, as a bell; to sound.
The shardborn beetle with his drowsy hums, hath rung night's yawning peal.
5. To tinkle; to have the sensation of sound continued.
My ears still ring with noise.
6. To be filled with report or talk. The whole town rings with his fame.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a characteristic sound; "it has the ring of sincerity"
2: a toroidal shape; "a ring of ships in the harbor"; "a halo of smoke" [syn: ring, halo, annulus, doughnut, anchor ring]
3: a rigid circular band of metal or wood or other material used for holding or fastening or hanging or pulling; "there was still a rusty iron hoop for tying a horse" [syn: hoop, ring]
4: (chemistry) a chain of atoms in a molecule that forms a closed loop [syn: closed chain, ring] [ant: open chain]
5: an association of criminals; "police tried to break up the gang"; "a pack of thieves" [syn: gang, pack, ring, mob]
6: the sound of a bell ringing; "the distinctive ring of the church bell"; "the ringing of the telephone"; "the tintinnabulation that so voluminously swells from the ringing and the dinging of the bells"--E. A. Poe [syn: ring, ringing, tintinnabulation]
7: a platform usually marked off by ropes in which contestants box or wrestle
8: jewelry consisting of a circlet of precious metal (often set with jewels) worn on the finger; "she had rings on every finger"; "he noted that she wore a wedding band" [syn: ring, band]
9: a strip of material attached to the leg of a bird to identify it (as in studies of bird migration) [syn: band, ring] v
1: sound loudly and sonorously; "the bells rang" [syn: ring, peal]
2: ring or echo with sound; "the hall resounded with laughter" [syn: resound, echo, ring, reverberate]
3: make (bells) ring, often for the purposes of musical edification; "Ring the bells"; "My uncle rings every Sunday at the local church" [syn: ring, knell]
4: get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone; "I tried to call you all night"; "Take two aspirin and call me in the morning" [syn: call, telephone, call up, phone, ring]
5: extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle; "The forest surrounds my property" [syn: surround, environ, ring, skirt, border]
6: attach a ring to the foot of, in order to identify; "ring birds"; "band the geese to observe their migratory patterns" [syn: ring, band]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hring; akin to Old High German hring ring, Old Church Slavic kr?g? circle Date: before 12th century 1. a circular band for holding, connecting, hanging, pulling, packing, or sealing <a key ring> <a towel ring> 2. a circlet usually of precious metal worn especially on the finger 3. a. a circular line, figure, or object <smoke ring> b. an encircling arrangement <a ring of suburbs> c. a circular or spiral course — often used figuratively in plural in the phrase run rings around to describe surpassing an opponent decisively 4. a. (1) an often circular space especially for exhibitions or competitions; especially such a space at a circus (2) a structure containing such a ring b. a square enclosure in which a fighting contest (as a boxing or wrestling match) takes place 5. a band of small objects revolving around a planet (as Saturn) and composed of dust and icy or rocky fragments 6. annual ring 7. a. an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish and often corrupt purpose (as to control a market) <a wheat ring> b. gang 8. the field of a political contest ; race 9. food in the shape of a circle 10. an arrangement of atoms represented in formulas or models in a cyclic manner — called also cycle 11. a set of mathematical elements that is closed under two binary operations of which the first forms a commutative group with the set and the second is associative over the set and is distributive with respect to the first operation 12. plural a. a pair of usually rubber-covered metal rings suspended from a ceiling or crossbar to a height of approximately eight feet above the floor and used for hanging, swinging, and balancing feats in gymnastics b. an event in gymnastics competition in which the rings are used 13. boxing I <ended his ring career> • ringlike adjective II. verb (ringed; ringing) Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to provide with a ring 2. to place or form a ring around ; encircle <police ringed the building> 3. girdle 2 4. to throw a ringer over (the peg) in a game (as horseshoes or quoits) intransitive verb 1. a. to move in a ring b. to rise in the air spirally 2. to form or take the shape of a ring III. verb (rang; rung; ringing) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hringan; akin to Old Norse hringja to ring Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. to sound resonantly or sonorously <the doorbell rang> <cheers rang out> 2. a. to be filled with a reverberating sound ; resound <the halls rang with laughter> b. to have the sensation of being filled with a humming sound <his ears rang> 3. to cause something to ring <ring for the butler> 4. a. to be filled with talk or report <the whole land rang with her fame> b. to have great renown c. to sound repetitiously <their praise rang in his ears> 5. to have a sound or character expressive of some quality <a story that rings true> 6. chiefly British to make a telephone call — usually used with up transitive verb 1. to cause to sound especially by striking 2. to make (a sound) by or as if by ringing a bell 3. to announce by or as if by ringing 4. to repeat often, loudly, or earnestly 5. a. to summon especially by bell b. chiefly British telephone — usually used with up IV. noun Date: 1549 1. a set of bells 2. a clear resonant sound made by or resembling that made by vibrating metal 3. resonant tone ; sonority 4. a loud sound continued, repeated, or reverberated 5. a sound or character expressive of some particular quality <the story had a familiar ring> 6. a. the act or an instance of ringing b. a telephone call <give me a ring in the morning>

Britannica Concise

Circular band of gold, silver, or other precious or decorative material usually worn on the finger, but sometimes on the toes, the ears, or the nose. The earliest examples were found in the tombs of ancient Egypt. In addition to being worn as adornment, rings have functioned as symbols of authority, fidelity, or social status. In the early Roman republic, most were made of iron, gold being reserved for persons of high status; but by the 3rd cent. BC anyone except a slave could wear a gold ring. The Romans are thought to have originated engagement rings, symbolizing a promise of marriage. In the Middle Ages, signet rings were important in religious, legal, and commercial transactions; memorial, posy, and keepsake rings served sentimental purposes; occult rings supposedly had magical powers; and poison rings had hollow bezels that could be filled with poison for the purpose of suicide or homicide. In modern algebra, a set of elements and two operations, addition and multiplication, that conform to certain conditions. These specify that the set be closed under addition and multiplication, form a commutative group with respect to addition (see group theory) but be merely associative with respect to multiplication, and that it obey the distributive law of multiplication over addition. If the set also contains a multiplicative inverse for each element, it is called a division ring. The set of integers is a ring, while the sets of rational, real, and complex numbers each form a field. Circular band of gold, silver, or other precious or decorative material usually worn on the finger, but sometimes on the toes, the ears, or the nose. The earliest examples were found in the tombs of ancient Egypt. In addition to being worn as adornment, rings have functioned as symbols of authority, fidelity, or social status. In the early Roman republic, most were made of iron, gold being reserved for persons of high status; but by the 3rd cent. BC anyone except a slave could wear a gold ring. The Romans are thought to have originated engagement rings, symbolizing a promise of marriage. In the Middle Ages, signet rings were important in religious, legal, and commercial transactions; memorial, posy, and keepsake rings served sentimental purposes; occult rings supposedly had magical powers; and poison rings had hollow bezels that could be filled with poison for the purpose of suicide or homicide. In modern algebra, a set of elements and two operations, addition and multiplication, that conform to certain conditions. These specify that the set be closed under addition and multiplication, form a commutative group with respect to addition (see group theory) but be merely associative with respect to multiplication, and that it obey the distributive law of multiplication over addition. If the set also contains a multiplicative inverse for each element, it is called a division ring. The set of integers is a ring, while the sets of rational, real, and complex numbers each form a field.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 a circular band, usu. of precious metal, worn on a finger as an ornament or a token of marriage or betrothal. 2 a circular band of any material. 3 the rim of a cylindrical or circular object, or a line or band round it. 4 a mark or part having the form of a circular band (had rings round his eyes; smoke rings). 5 = annual ring. 6 a an enclosure for a circus performance, betting at races, the showing of cattle, etc. b (prec. by the) bookmakers collectively. c a roped enclosure for boxing or wrestling. 7 a a group of people or things arranged in a circle. b such an arrangement. 8 a combination of traders, bookmakers, spies, politicians, etc. acting together usu. illicitly for the control of operations or profit. 9 a circular or spiral course. 10 = gas ring. 11 Astron. a a thin band or disc of particles etc. round a planet. b a halo round the moon. 12 Archaeol. a circular prehistoric earthwork usu. of a bank and ditch. 13 Chem. a group of atoms each bonded to two others in a closed sequence. 14 Math. a set of elements with two binary operations, addition and multiplication, the second being distributive over the first and associative. --v.tr. 1 make or draw a circle round. 2 (often foll. by round, about, in) encircle or hem in (game or cattle). 3 put a ring on (a bird etc.) or through the nose of (a pig, bull, etc.). 4 cut (fruit, vegetables, etc.) into rings. Phrases and idioms: ring-binder a loose-leaf binder with ring-shaped clasps that can be opened to pass through holes in the paper. ring circuit an electrical circuit serving a number of power points with one fuse in the supply to the circuit. ring-dove 1 the woodpigeon. 2 the collared dove. ringed plover either of two small plovers, Charadrius hiaticula and C. dubius. ring finger the finger next to the little finger, esp. of the left hand, on which the wedding ring is usu. worn. ring main 1 an electrical supply serving a series of consumers and returning to the original source, so that each consumer has an alternative path in the event of a failure. 2 = ring circuit. ring-neck any of various ring-necked birds esp. a type of pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, with a white neck-ring. ring-necked Zool. having a band or bands of colour round the neck. ring ouzel a thrush, Turdus torquatus, with a white crescent across its breast. ring-pull (of a tin) having a ring for pulling to break its seal. ring road a bypass encircling a town. ring-tailed 1 (of monkeys, lemurs, racoons, etc.) having a tail ringed in alternate colours. 2 with the tail curled at the end. run (or make) rings round colloq. outclass or outwit (another person). Derivatives: ringed adj. (also in comb.). ringless adj. Etymology: OE hring f. Gmc 2. v. & n. --v. (past rang; past part. rung) 1 intr. (often foll. by out etc.) give a clear resonant or vibrating sound of or as of a bell (a shot rang out; a ringing laugh; the telephone rang). 2 tr. a make (esp. a bell) ring. b (absol.) call for service or attention by ringing a bell (you rang, madam?). 3 tr. (also absol.; often foll. by up) Brit. call by telephone (will ring you on Monday; did you ring?). 4 intr. (usu. foll. by with, to) (of a place) resound or be permeated with a sound, or an attribute, e.g. fame (the theatre rang with applause). 5 intr. (of the ears) be filled with a sensation of ringing. 6 tr. a sound (a peal etc.) on bells. b (of a bell) sound (the hour etc.). 7 tr. (foll. by in, out) usher in or out with bell-ringing (ring in the May; rang out the Old Year). 8 intr. (of sentiments etc.) convey a specified impression (words rang hollow). --n. 1 a ringing sound or tone. 2 a the act of ringing a bell. b the sound caused by this. 3 colloq. a telephone call (give me a ring). 4 a specified feeling conveyed by an utterance (had a melancholy ring). 5 a set of esp. church bells. Phrases and idioms: ring back make a return telephone call to (a person who has telephoned earlier). ring a bell see BELL(1). ring the changes (on) see CHANGE. ring down (or up) the curtain 1 cause the curtain to be lowered or raised. 2 (foll. by on) mark the end or the beginning of (an enterprise etc.). ring in 1 report or make contact by telephone. 2 Austral. & NZ sl. substitute fraudulently. ring in one's ears (or heart etc.) linger in the memory. ringing tone a sound heard by a telephone caller when the number dialled is being rung. ring off Brit. end a telephone call by replacing the receiver. ring true (or false) convey an impression of truth or falsehood. ring up 1 Brit. call by telephone. 2 record (an amount etc.) on a cash register. Derivatives: ringed adj. (also in comb.). ringer n. ringing adj. ringingly adv. Etymology: OE hringan

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ring Ring (r[i^]ng), v. t. [imp. Rang (r[a^]ng) or Rung (r[u^]ng); p. p. Rung; p. pr. & vb. n. Ringing.] [AS. hringan; akin to Icel. hringja, Sw. ringa, Dan. ringe, OD. ringhen, ringkelen. [root]19.] 1. To cause to sound, especially by striking, as a metallic body; as, to ring a bell. 2. To make (a sound), as by ringing a bell; to sound. The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums, Hath rung night's yawning peal. --Shak. 3. To repeat often, loudly, or earnestly. To ring a peal, to ring a set of changes on a chime of bells. To ring the changes upon. See under Change. To ring in or out, to usher, attend on, or celebrate, by the ringing of bells; as, to ring out the old year and ring in the new. --Tennyson. To ring the bells backward, to sound the chimes, reversing the common order; -- formerly done as a signal of alarm or danger. --Sir W. Scott.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ring Ring, n. 1. A sound; especially, the sound of vibrating metals; as, the ring of a bell. 2. Any loud sound; the sound of numerous voices; a sound continued, repeated, or reverberated. The ring of acclamations fresh in his ears. --Bacon 3. A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned. As great and tunable a ring of bells as any in the world. --Fuller.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ring Ring, n. [AS. hring, hrinc; akin to Fries. hring, D. & G. ring, OHG. ring, hring, Icel. hringr, DAn. & SW. ring; cf. Russ. krug'. Cf. Harangue, Rank a row,Rink.] A circle, or a circular line, or anything in the form of a circular line or hoop. 2. Specifically, a circular ornament of gold or other precious material worn on the finger, or attached to the ear, the nose, or some other part of the person; as, a wedding ring. Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring. --Chaucer. The dearest ring in Venice will I give you. --Shak. 3. A circular area in which races are or run or other sports are performed; an arena. Place me, O, place me in the dusty ring, Where youthful charioteers contend for glory. --E. Smith. 4. An inclosed space in which pugilists fight; hence, figuratively, prize fighting. ``The road was an institution, the ring was an institution.'' --Thackeray. 5. A circular group of persons. And hears the Muses in a ring Aye round about Jove's alter sing. --Milton. 6. (Geom.) (a) The plane figure included between the circumferences of two concentric circles. (b) The solid generated by the revolution of a circle, or other figure, about an exterior straight line (as an axis) lying in the same plane as the circle or other figure. 7. (Astron. & Navigation) An instrument, formerly used for taking the sun's altitude, consisting of a brass ring suspended by a swivel, with a hole at one side through which a solar ray entering indicated the altitude on the graduated inner surface opposite. 8. (Bot.) An elastic band partly or wholly encircling the spore cases of ferns. See Illust. of Sporangium. 9. A clique; an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish purpose, as to control the market, distribute offices, obtain contracts, etc. The ruling ring at Constantinople. --E. A. Freeman. Ring armor, armor composed of rings of metal. See Ring mail, below, and Chain mail, under Chain. Ring blackbird (Zo["o]l.), the ring ousel. Ring canal (Zo["o]l.), the circular water tube which surrounds the esophagus of echinoderms. Ring dotterel, or Ringed dotterel. (Zo["o]l.) See Dotterel, and Illust. of Pressiroster. Ring dropper, a sharper who pretends to have found a ring (dropped by himself), and tries to induce another to buy it as valuable, it being worthless. Ring fence. See under Fence. Ring finger, the third finger of the left hand, or the next the little finger, on which the ring is placed in marriage. Ring formula (Chem.), a graphic formula in the shape of a closed ring, as in the case of benzene, pyridine, etc. See Illust. under Benzene. Ring mail, a kind of mail made of small steel rings sewed upon a garment of leather or of cloth. Ring micrometer. (Astron.) See Circular micrometer, under Micrometer. Saturn's rings. See Saturn. Ring ousel. (Zo["o]l.) See Ousel. Ring parrot (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Old World parrakeets having a red ring around the neck, especially Pal[ae]ornis torquatus, common in India, and P. Alexandri of Java. Ring plover. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The ringed dotterel. (b) Any one of several small American plovers having a dark ring around the neck, as the semipalmated plover ([AE]gialitis semipalmata). Ring snake (Zo["o]l.), a small harmless American snake (Diadophis punctatus) having a white ring around the neck. The back is ash-colored, or sage green, the belly of an orange red. Ring stopper. (Naut.) See under Stopper. Ring thrush (Zo["o]l.), the ring ousel. The prize ring, the ring in which prize fighters contend; prize fighters, collectively. The ring. (a) The body of sporting men who bet on horse races. [Eng.] (b) The prize ring.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ring Ring, v. i. 1. To sound, as a bell or other sonorous body, particularly a metallic one. Now ringen trompes loud and clarion. --Chaucer. Why ring not out the bells? --Shak. 2. To practice making music with bells. --Holder. 3. To sound loud; to resound; to be filled with a ringing or reverberating sound. With sweeter notes each rising temple rung. --Pope. The hall with harp and carol rang. --Tennyson. My ears still ring with noise. --Dryden. 4. To continue to sound or vibrate; to resound. The assertion is still ringing in our ears. --Burke. 5. To be filled with report or talk; as, the whole town rings with his fame.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ring Ring, v. i. (Falconry) To rise in the air spirally.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ring Ring, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ringed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ringing.] 1. To surround with a ring, or as with a ring; to encircle. ``Ring these fingers.'' --Shak. 2. (Hort.) To make a ring around by cutting away the bark; to girdle; as, to ring branches or roots. 3. To fit with a ring or with rings, as the fingers, or a swine's snout.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Pawl Pawl, n. [W. pawl a pole, a stake. Cf. Pole a stake.] (Mach.) A pivoted tongue, or sliding bolt, on one part of a machine, adapted to fall into notches, or interdental spaces, on another part, as a ratchet wheel, in such a manner as to permit motion in one direction and prevent it in the reverse, as in a windlass; a catch, click, or detent. See Illust. of Ratchet Wheel. [Written also paul, or pall.] Pawl bitt (Naut.), a heavy timber, set abaft the windlass, to receive the strain of the pawls. Pawl rim or ring (Naut.), a stationary metallic ring surrounding the base of a capstan, having notches for the pawls to catch in.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

I. TELEPHONING OR MAKING A SOUND (rings, ringing, rang, rung) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. Please look at category 11 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword. 1. When you ring someone, you telephone them. (mainly BRIT) He rang me at my mother's... I would ring when I got back to the hotel... She has rung home just once... Could someone ring for a taxi? = phone VERB: V n, V, V adv, V for n • Ring up means the same as ring. (in AM, usually use call) You can ring us up anytime... John rang up and invited himself over for dinner... A few months ago I rang up about some housing problems... Nobody rings up a doctor in the middle of the night for no reason. PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P, V P about n, V P n (not pron) 2. When a telephone rings, it makes a sound to let you know that someone is phoning you. As soon as he got home, the phone rang... VERB: V • Ring is also a noun. After at least eight rings, an ancient-sounding maid answered the phone. N-COUNT • ringing She was jolted out of her sleep by the ringing of the telephone. N-UNCOUNT 3. When you ring a bell or when a bell rings, it makes a sound. He heard the school bell ring... The door was opened before she could ring the bell. VERB: V, V n • Ring is also a noun. There was a ring at the bell. N-COUNT • ringing ...the ringing of church bells. N-UNCOUNT 4. If you ring for something, you ring a bell to call someone to bring it to you. If you ring for someone, you ring a bell so that they will come to you. Shall I ring for a fresh pot of tea?... VERB: V for n 5. If you say that a place is ringing with sound, usually pleasant sound, you mean that the place is completely filled with that sound. (LITERARY) The whole place was ringing with music. VERB: V with n 6. You can use ring to describe a quality that something such as a statement, discussion, or argument seems to have. For example, if an argument has a familiar ring, it seems familiar. His proud boast of leading 'the party of low taxation' has a hollow ring. = feel N-SING: usu a adj N 7. If you say that someone rings the changes, you mean that they make changes or improvements to the way something is organized or done. Ring the changes by adding spices, dried fruit or olives. PHRASE: V inflects 8. If you say that someone's words ring in your ears or ring in your head, you mean that you remember them very clearly, usually when you would prefer to forget them. (LITERARY) She shivered as the sound of that man's abuse rang in her ears. PHRASE: V and N inflect 9. If you give someone a ring, you phone them. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL; in AM, usually use call) We'll give him a ring as soon as we get back. PHRASE: V inflects 10. If a statement rings true, it seems to be true or genuine. If it rings hollow, it does not seem to be true or genuine. Joanna's denial rang true... The rumpus has made all the optimistic statements about unity and harmony ring a little hollow. PHRASE: V inflects 11. to ring a bell: see bell see also ringing II. SHAPES AND GROUPS (rings, ringing, ringed) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. A ring is a small circle of metal or other substance that you wear on your finger as jewellery. ...a gold wedding ring. N-COUNT 2. An object or substance that is in the shape of a circle can be described as a ring. Frank took a large ring of keys from his pocket. ...a ring of blue smoke. N-COUNT: usu with supp 3. A group of people or things arranged in a circle can be described as a ring. They then formed a ring around the square. = circle N-COUNT: usu with supp 4. A gas or electric ring is one of the small flat areas on top of a stove which heat up and which you use for cooking. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use burner) N-COUNT: usu supp N 5. At a boxing or wrestling match or a circus, the ring is the place where the contest or performance takes place. It consists of an enclosed space with seats round it. He will never again be allowed inside a British boxing ring. N-COUNT: usu with supp 6. You can refer to an organized group of people who are involved in an illegal activity as a ring. Police are investigating the suspected drug ring at the school. N-COUNT: usu n N 7. If a building or place is ringed with or by something, it is surrounded by it. The areas are sealed off and ringed by troops. VERB: usu passive, be V-ed 8. If you say that someone runs rings round you or runs rings around you, you mean that they are a lot better or a lot more successful than you at a particular activity. (INFORMAL) Mentally, he can still run rings round men half his age! PHRASE: V inflects

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Used as an ornament to decorate the fingers, arms, wrists, and also the ears and the nose. Rings were used as a signet (Gen. 38:18). They were given as a token of investment with authority (Gen. 41:42; Esther 3:8-10; 8:2), and of favour and dignity (Luke 15:22). They were generally worn by rich men (James 2:2). They are mentioned by Isiah (3:21) among the adornments of Hebrew women.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(Anglo-Saxon, Hring, "ring"): The word renders (the American Standard Revised Version) two Hebrew words (in the King James Version and the English Revised Version three) and two Greek words. Tabba`ath, the principal Hebrew word, is from Tabha`, "sink," either because the ring is something "cast" or molded, or, more probably, since the principal use of the ring was as a seal, because it "sank" into the wax or clay that received the impression. In Exodus, Tabba`ath, "ring," is a detail of furniture or equipment, as the rings of the ark through which the staves were thrust (Ex 25:12, etc.), rings for curtains, in the high priest's ephod (Ex 28:28; 39:21), etc. Its other use was perhaps the original, to describe the article of personal adornment worn on the finger, apparently in the Old Testament always a signet-ring, and as such an indispensable article of masculine attire. Such a ring Pharaoh gave Joseph as a symbol of authority (Ge 41:42); and Ahasuerus gave Haman (Es 3:10); with it the royal missive was sealed (Es 3:12; 8:8 twice,10). It was also a feminine ornament in Isaiah's list of the fashionable feminine paraphernalia, "the rings and the nose-jewels" (quite likely rings also) (Isa 3:21). Either as ornaments or for their intrinsic value, or both, rings were used as gifts for sacred purposes from both men and women: "brooches, and ear-rings, and signet-rings" (margin "nose-rings") (Ex 35:22); "bracelets, rings (the American Standard Revised Version "signet-rings"), ear-rings" (Nu 31:50 the King James Version). chotham, "signet," mentioned in Ge 38:18,25; Ex 28:11,21,36; Ex 39:6,14,30; Jer 22:24; Hag 2:23, etc., was probably usually a seal ring, but in Ge 38 and elsewhere the seal may have been swung on wire, and suspended by a cord from the neck. It was not only an identification, but served as a stamp for signature. galil, "circle" (compare "Galilee," "Circle" of the Gentiles), rendered "ring" in Es 1:6; So 5:14, may rather mean "cylinder" or "rod" of metal. Earring (which see) in the King James Version is from totally different words: nezem, whose etymology is unknown, aghil, "round," or lachash, "amulet"; so the Revised Version (British and American). The "rings" of the wheels in Eze 1:18 (the King James Version) are gabh, "curved," and mean "rims" (American Standard Revised Version), "felloes." Egyptians especially wore a great profusion of rings, principally of silver or gold, engraved with scarabaei, or other devices. In the New Testament the ring, daktulios, "finger-ring," is a token of means, position, standing: "put a ring on his hand" (Lu 15:22). Perhaps also it included the right to give orders in his father's name. To be chrusodaktulios, "golden-ringed," perhaps with more than one, indicated wealth and social rank: "a man with a gold ring" (Jas 2:2).

See also EARRING; SIGNET; SEAL.

Philip Wendell Crannell

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Circle, hoop. 2. Race-course, racing-ground, arena. 3. Circular group of persons. 4. (Colloq.) Resonance, reverberation. 5. Clique, junto, cabal, coterie, set, combination, league, confederacy. II. v. n. 1. Sound, resound. 2. Tingle, keep sounding.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

Money procured by begging: beggars so called it from its ringing when thrown to them. Also a circle formed for boxers, wrestlers, and cudgel-players, by a man styled Vinegar; who, with his hat before his eyes, goes round the circle, striking at random with his whip to prevent the populace from crowding in.

Moby Thesaurus

Bund, Chinese boxing, DDD, Kekule formula, O, Rochdale cooperative, affiliation, agora, alliance, amphitheater, anklet, annular muscle, annulet, annulus, anthelion, antisun, arena, areola, armlet, armory, assemblage, association, athletic field, atomic cluster, auditorium, aura, aureole, awake the dead, axis, background, badge, badge of office, badges, band, bandeau, bangle, baton, beads, bear garden, bearing, begird, bell, belt, belt in, benzene ring, bijou, bilge, bind, blain, blast, blast the ear, blazonry, bleb, blister, blob, bloc, body, bong, boom, border, boss, bout, bow, bowl, boxing, boxing match, boxing ring, bracelet, branched chain, brassard, breastpin, brooch, brotherhood, bubble, bulb, bulge, bull ring, bulla, bump, bunch, burl, busy signal, button, buzz, cabal, cadre, cahot, call, call up, camarilla, camp, campus, canvas, cap and gown, cartel, cell, cestus, chain, chain of office, change ringing, chaplet, charm, charmed circle, chatelaine, chime, chiming, chine, chink, cincture, cingulum, circle, circlet, circuit, circumference, circus, clan, clang, clanging, clangor, clank, clanking, class ring, clink, clinking, clique, close fighting, closed chain, closed circle, clump, coalition, cockade, cockpit, coliseum, collar, collarband, college, colosseum, combination, combine, common market, compass, compound radical, condyle, confederacy, confederation, consumer cooperative, convex, cooperative, cooperative society, corona, coronet, corps, coterie, council, countersun, course, crash, credit union, crescendo, crew, crook, crosier, cross, crowd, crown, cuff, customs union, cycle, deafen, decoration, diadem, dial, dial tone, din, ding, ding-a-ling, dingdong, dinging, dingle, direct distance dialing, discus, disk, dong, donging, dowel, dress, eagle, ear, earring, echo, echoing, ecliptic, economic community, elite, elite group, emblems, embrace, encincture, encircle, enclosure, encompass, engird, ensigns, ensphere, envelop, equator, eternal return, eye, eyelet, faction, fairy ring, fasces, fascia, federation, field, fighting, figurehead, fill the air, fillet, finger ring, fisticuffs, flange, flap, fleur-de-lis, floor, fob, forum, fraternity, free trade area, gall, gang, garland, gem, gird, girdle, girt, girth, give a ring, gland, glory, gnarl, gong, great circle, grommet, ground, group, grouping, guild, gym, gymnasium, hall, halo, hammer and sickle, handle, hang up, hem, heraldry, heterocycle, hill, hippodrome, hold the phone, homocycle, hoop, hump, hunch, infighting, ingroup, inner circle, insignia, jangle, jangling, jewel, jingle, jingle-jangle, jinglejangle, jingling, jog, joggle, junta, junto, keys, knell, knelling, knob, knoll, knot, knur, knurl, lapel pin, lasso, lattice, league, lip, listen in, lists, livery, local call, locale, locket, logical circle, long distance, long-distance call, loop, looplet, lump, lunar corona, lunar halo, mace, machine, magic circle, make a call, mantle, marketplace, markings, mat, medal, milieu, miter, mob, mobile call, mock moon, mock sun, mole, molecule, mountain, neckband, necklace, nevus, nimbus, noose, nose ring, nub, nubbin, nubble, old school tie, open forum, orbit, organization, outfit, pack, palaestra, pallium, papilloma, parade ground, paraselene, parhelic circle, parhelion, partnership, party, pastoral staff, peal, peal ringing, pealing, peg, person-to-person call, phone, phone call, pin, pit, place, platform, political machine, precinct, precious stone, prize ring, prizefight, prizefighting, public square, pugilism, purlieu, quoit, radical, radius, rainbow, range, rattle the windows, red hat, regalia, rend the air, rend the ears, resonate, resonating, resound, reverberate, reverberating, reverberation, rhinestone, rib, ridge, ring changes, ring off, ring up, ringing, ringlet, rink, rise, rock the sky, rondelle, rose, round, roundel, roundlet, saucer, savate, scene, scene of action, scenery, school ring, secret society, set, setting, shadowboxing, shamrock, shoulder, side chain, sigillography, simple radical, sisterhood, site, skull and crossbones, society, solar corona, solar halo, sorority, sound, sound a knell, sounding, space-lattice, spar, sphere, sphincter, sphragistics, spine, split the eardrums, split the ears, squared circle, stadium, staff, stage, stage set, stage setting, staple, startle the echoes, station-to-station call, stickpin, stone, straight chain, stud, stun, style, sun dog, surge, surround, swastika, swell, tab, tartan, team, telephone, telephone call, terrain, the clinches, the fights, the ring, theater, thistle, thunder, tiara, tie, tilting ground, tiltyard, tin, ting, ting-a-ling, tingle, tingling, tink, tinkle, tinkling, tinnitus, tintinnabulate, toll, toll call, tolling, torque, triple crown, tubercle, tubercule, twine around, uniform, union, verge, verruca, vesicle, vicious circle, wale, walk, wampum, wand, wart, washer, we-group, welt, wheel, wreath, wreathe, wreathe around, wrestling ring, wristband, wristlet, zodiac, zone