ring1
  
  n.
      - a small circular band, typically of precious metal, worn on a finger as an ornament or as a token of marriage, engagement, or authority.
 - a circular band, article, or mark. 
▸a thin band of rock and ice particles round a planet.
 ▸chiefly Brit. a flat circular heating device forming part of a gas or electric hob.
 ▸Archaeology  a circular prehistoric earthwork, typically consisting of a bank and ditch.
 - an enclosed space in which a sport, performance, or show takes place.
 - a circle of people or things. 
▸a group of people engaged in a shared enterprise, especially one involving illegal activity:
 a drug ring.
 - Chemistry  a number of atoms bonded together to form a closed loop in a molecule.
 - Mathematics  a set of elements with two binary operations, addition and multiplication, the second being distributive over the first and associative.
 
v.
    - surround. 
▸chiefly Brit. draw a circle round.
 - Brit. Ornithology  put an identifying strip around the leg of (a bird).
 - put a circular band through the nose of (a bull, pig, etc.) to lead or control it.
 - informal fraudulently change the identity of (a motor vehicle).
 
 
  Phrase
  
    - hold the ring
 monitor a dispute or conflict without becoming involved.  - run 
(or make)
 rings round 
(or around)
 informal outclass or outwit (someone) easily. 
   
  Derivative
  
    - ringed adj.
  - ringless adj.
 
   
  Etymology
  OE hring, of Gmc origin; rel. to rank1.
 
  
    
ring2
  
  v.
 (past rang; past part. rung)
    - make or cause to make a clear resonant or vibrating sound. 
▸(of a telephone) ring repeatedly to signal an incoming call.
 ▸call for attention by sounding a bell.
 ▸
(often ring with)
 reverberate with a sound.
 ▸(of the ears) be filled with a buzzing or humming sound due to a blow or loud noise.
 ▸
(ring something up)
 record an amount on a cash register.
 - Brit. call by telephone. 
▸
(ring off)
 end a telephone call by replacing the receiver.
 - sound (the hour, a peal, etc.) on a bell or bells. 
▸
(ring someone/thing in or out)
 usher someone or something in (or out) by or as if by ringing a bell.
 - 
(ring with)
 be filled with (a quality). 
▸convey a specified impression or quality:
 the author's honesty rings true.
 
n.
    - an act of ringing. 
▸a loud clear sound or tone.
 - Brit. informal a telephone call.
 - a quality conveyed by something heard:
 the tale had a ring of truth.
 - a set of bells, especially church bells.
 
 
  Phrase
  
    
      - ring down 
(or up)
 the curtain
  - lower (or raise) a theatre curtain.
 - mark the end (or beginning) of something.
 
 
    
   
  Etymology
  OE hringan, of Gmc origin, perh. imitative.