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
Singing is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
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.
Verb phrases
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

Related forms
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

Can be confused: 1. sign, sing (see synonym study at sign) ; 2. singeing, singing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To singing
Collins
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 (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

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.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
And suddenly the music was much richer for the drama that the singing actors
  were caught in.
They were literally singing for their supper, for without the right to inherit,
  they were a burden on their families.
Knitting and withal singing, and it seemed that her voice comforted her hands
  to work.
It's also home to a kaleidoscope of ethnic minorities, usually depicted as
  singing and dancing in colorful tribal costumes.
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