# ring /ˈɹɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹˈɪŋ/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ring Updated: 2026-08-15 ## Senses ### 1. jewellery noun · CEFR A1 a small circular band, usually made of precious metal, that you wear on your finger. For teachers: a circular band of precious metal or other material worn on the finger as an ornament or a token of marriage or engagement. - He gave her a beautiful gold ring when he asked her to marry him. - The heirloom ring featured a central sapphire surrounded by smaller diamonds, set in a delicate platinum band. ### 2. circular object or shape noun · CEFR A2 any object or mark that has the shape of a circle. For teachers: a circular object, arrangement, or mark; includes astronomical features like those around Saturn or growth marks in trees. - The children sat in a ring on the floor to play a game. - By counting the annual rings in the cross-section of the trunk, the botanist determined the oak was over two centuries old. ### 3. sports arena noun · CEFR B1 a square or circular area where people perform or compete, like in boxing or a circus. For teachers: an enclosed space, often circular or square, used for sports, exhibitions, or performances. - The two boxers stepped into the ring as the crowd cheered. - The circus performers gathered in the center ring for the grand finale of the evening show. ### 4. sound of a bell noun · CEFR A2 the clear, musical sound that a bell makes. For teachers: the resonant sound produced by a bell or a similar vibrating object. - The loud ring of the school bell told the students that class was over. - The distant ring of the cathedral bells echoed through the valley, marking the start of the Sunday service. ### 5. telephone call noun · CEFR A2 · British English · Informal an act of calling someone on the telephone. For teachers: an instance of telephoning someone; common in the idiom 'to give someone a ring'. - I will give you a ring later this evening to discuss our plans. - If you haven't heard from the recruiter by Friday, you should probably give them a ring to check your application status. ### 6. illegal group noun · CEFR B2 a group of people who work together to do something dishonest or illegal. For teachers: an exclusive group of people involved in a secret or illegal enterprise. - The police finally broke up a ring of car thieves operating in the city. - Federal agents spent months infiltrating the international smuggling ring before making any arrests. ### 7. to make a bell sound verb · CEFR A2 to make a bell produce a sound, or to sound like a bell. For teachers: to cause a bell to sound; or, for a bell or telephone to emit a resonant sound. - She rang the doorbell several times, but nobody answered. - The telephone rang incessantly throughout the morning, interrupting the meeting every few minutes. ### 8. to call by phone verb · CEFR A2 · British English to call someone using a telephone. For teachers: to contact a person via telephone; frequently used as a transitive verb. - I'll ring you as soon as I get home from work. - The manager promised to ring the client personally to apologize for the delay in the shipment. ### 9. to surround verb · CEFR B1 to draw a circle around something or to stand in a circle around it. For teachers: to surround or encircle something physically or on a map. - The teacher asked the students to ring the correct answer on the worksheet. - Ancient stone walls still ring the old city, protecting the historic buildings within from modern traffic. ### 10. to seem or sound like verb · CEFR B2 to give a particular impression when you hear or read something. For teachers: to convey a specified impression or quality when heard or considered; often used with 'true' or 'false'. - His excuse for being late didn't ring true to me. - Although the witness was confident, her testimony did not ring true when compared to the physical evidence. ### 11. mathematical structure noun · CEFR C2 · Technical a special set of numbers or objects in math that follows certain rules for adding and multiplying. For teachers: an algebraic structure consisting of a set equipped with two binary operations that satisfy specific axioms. - In our advanced math class, we studied the properties of a polynomial ring. - The professor demonstrated that every field is a ring, but not every ring satisfies the requirements to be a field. ### 12. body part noun · CEFR C2 · Vulgar · Slang a slang or rude word for the opening where waste leaves the body. For teachers: a vulgar slang term for the anus. - He used a vulgar word for his ring when he was complaining about the pain. - The comedian's routine relied heavily on crude anatomical references, including several jokes about his ring. ## Examples - She wears a beautiful gold ring. - He gave her a diamond ring when he asked her to marry him. - The ancient ring, passed down through generations, was a simple silver band whose true value lay not in its material but in its history. --- 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.