# ling

/ˈɫɪŋ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ling
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. a type of plant

noun · CEFR C2 · British English

a low-growing plant with small purple flowers that grows on wild hills.

For teachers: a common species of heather, Calluna vulgaris, typically found on moors and heaths.

- The hills were covered in purple ling during the late summer months.
- The vast expanses of the Scottish Highlands are famous for their carpets of ling, which provide essential habitat for local wildlife.

### 3. linguistics

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a short, casual way to say 'linguistics' — the study of language.

For teachers: an informal clipping of linguistics, used primarily within academic or student contexts.

- She decided to take an intro to ling course in her first year of university.
- The department offers several joint honours degrees, allowing students to combine ling with modern languages or psychology.

## Examples

- The restaurant serves fresh ling with a side of potatoes.
- Local fishermen often catch ling in the deep, cold waters of the North Atlantic during the winter months.
- While less famous than cod or haddock, ling remains a staple of the regional fishing industry due to its firm texture and suitability for traditional drying and salting methods.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.