singing
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.the act of making musical sounds with your voice.
n.the production of musical sounds using the voice. Uncountable in most contexts.
Simple“Her singing was so beautiful that the whole room went quiet to listen.”
In context“The choir's singing resonated through the cathedral, demonstrating a perfect balance between the soprano and alto sections.”
UsageUsually uncountable; when referring to a specific event, it can be used with 'a' in some dialects.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
n.giving information to the police about someone else's crimes.
n.the act of disclosing incriminating information to authorities about accomplices or criminal activity.
Simple“The thief started singing to the police as soon as they caught him.”
In context“The detective suspected that once the pressure mounted, one of the suspects would start singing to secure a plea deal.”
Teacher's tipThis is a metaphorical use of the verb 'to sing' common in crime fiction and police procedurals.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
adj.having a smooth, musical, and pleasant sound.
adj.characterised by a smooth, flowing, and melodic quality; often used to describe a style of playing an instrument.
Simple“The pianist played with a lovely singing tone that moved the audience.”
In context“The instructor urged the violinist to adopt a more singing style during the second movement to highlight the composer's lyrical intentions.”
Usage singing songs
From Middle English syngyng; equivalent to sing + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.