sing

[sing] verb, sang or, often sung; sung; sing·ing; noun
verb (used without object)
1.
to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically.
2.
to perform a song or voice composition: She promised to sing for us.
3.
to produce melodious sounds, usually high in pitch, as certain birds, insects, etc.: The nightingale sang in the tree.
4.
to compose poetry: Keats sang briefly but gloriously.
5.
to tell about or praise someone or something in verse or song: He sang of the warrior's prowess.
6.
to admit of being sung, as verses: This lyric sings well.
7.
to give out a continuous ringing, whistling, murmuring, burbling, or other euphonious sound, as a teakettle or a brook.
8.
to make a short whistling, ringing, or whizzing sound: The bullet sang past his ear.
9.
(of an electrical amplifying system) to produce an undesired self-sustained oscillation.
10.
to have the sensation of a ringing or humming sound, as the ears.
11.
Slang. to confess or act as an informer; squeal.
verb (used with object)
12.
to utter with musical modulations of the voice, as a song.
13.
to escort or accompany with singing.
14.
to proclaim enthusiastically.
15.
to bring, send, put, etc., with or by singing: She sang the baby to sleep.
16.
to chant or intone: to sing mass.
17.
to tell or praise in verse or song.
00:10
Sing is one of our favorite verbs.
So is kibitz. Does it mean:
to flee; abscond:
chat, to converse
noun
18.
the act or performance of singing.
19.
a gathering or meeting of persons for the purpose of singing: a community sing.
20.
a singing, ringing, or whistling sound, as of a bullet.
21.
sing out, Informal. to call in a loud voice; shout: They lost their way in the cavern and sang out for help.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English singen, Old English singan; cognate with Dutch zingen, German singen, Old Norse syngva, Gothic siggwan

sing·a·ble, adjective
sing·a·bil·i·ty, sing·a·ble·ness, noun
sing·ing·ly, adverb
mis·sing, verb, mis·sang, mis·sung, mis·sing·ing.
un·sing·a·ble, adjective

1. sign, sing (see synonym study at sign) ; 2. singeing, singing.
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sing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
sing (sɪŋ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb (when intr, often foll by to) (foll by of) (foll by to) (when intr, usually foll by of) , sings, singing, sang, sung
1.  to produce or articulate (sounds, words, a song, etc) with definite and usually specific musical intonation
2.  to perform (a song) to the accompaniment (of): to sing to a guitar
3.  to tell a story or tale in song (about): I sing of a maiden
4.  to address a song (to) or perform a song (for)
5.  (intr) to perform songs for a living, as a professional singer
6.  (intr) (esp of certain birds and insects) to utter calls or sounds reminiscent of music
7.  to tell (something) or give praise (to someone), esp in verse: the poet who sings of the Trojan dead
8.  (intr) to make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound: the kettle is singing; the arrow sang past his ear
9.  (intr) (of the ears) to experience a continuous ringing or humming sound
10.  (tr) (esp in church services) to chant or intone (a prayer, psalm, etc)
11.  (tr) to bring to a given state by singing: to sing a child to sleep
12.  slang chiefly (US) (intr) to confess or act as an informer
13.  (Austral) (intr) (in Aboriginal witchcraft) to bring about a person's death by incantation. The same power can sometimes be used beneficently
 
n
14.  informal an act or performance of singing
15.  a ringing or whizzing sound, as of bullets
 
[Old English singan; related to Old Norse syngja to sing, Gothic siggwan, Old High German singan]
 
 
'singable
 
adj
 
'singing
 
adj, —n

sing.
 
abbreviation for
singular

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

sing
O.E. singan "to chant, sing, tell in song," also used of birds (class III strong verb; past tense sang, pp. sungen), from P.Gmc. *sengwanan (cf. O.Fris. sionga, M.Du. singhen, O.H.G. singan, Ger. singen, Goth. siggwan, O.N. syngva, Swed. sjunga), from PIE base *sengwh- "to sing, make an incantation."
No related forms in other languages, unless perhaps it is connected to Gk. omphe "voice" (especially of a god), "oracle;" and Welsh dehongli "explain, interpret." The typical IE root is represented by L. canere (see chant). Other words meaning "sing" derive from roots meaning "cry, shout," but Ir. gaibim is lit. "take, seize," with sense evolution via "take up" a song or melody. The criminal slang sense of "to confess to authorities" is attested from 1612. Singsong (adj.) is first recorded 1734, from earlier use as a noun (1609).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary

sing definition


  1. in.
    to inform (on someone). (Underworld.) : Rocko knew the stoolie would sing. He had to do something to stop her.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
sing.
singular
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
The steps vary from place to place, but the dancers all carry lanterns or fans
  and they also sing.
Although the cardinal can be secretive and remain hidden in thickets, males
  usually sing from exposed perches.
Free traders will sing the high praises of globalization.
Thousands lined the streets to wave farewell and sing the old anthems and hymns.
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