ding

¹

[ ding ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to make a ringing sound.
2. to speak about insistently.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a ringing sound.
2. to talk insistently.

noun

1. a ringing sound.

ding

²

[ ding ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause surface damage to; dent:

   Flying gravel had dinged the car's fenders.

2. to strike with force; hit:

   The catcher was dinged on the shoulder by a wild throw.

3. to blackball:

   Only one freshman was dinged by the fraternity.

noun

1. dent; nick:

   The surfboard has a few dings in it from scraping over rocks.

ding

¹

/ dɪŋ /

verb

1. to ring or cause to ring, esp with tedious repetition
2. tr another word for din 1

noun

1. an imitation or representation of the sound of a bell
2. informal.
   a party or social event

ding

²

/ dɪŋ /

verb

1. to strike; dash down
2. to surpass

Word History and Origins

Origin of ding¹

First recorded in 1575–85; ding-dong

Origin of ding²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb dingen, dengen, dengen “to beat, scourge,” probably from Old English gedingan “to throw oneself with force”; akin to Old English dencgan “to knock, ding,” Old Norse dengja “to beat, hammer”

Word History and Origins

Origin of ding¹

C13: probably of imitative origin, but influenced by din ¹+ ring ²; compare Old Swedish diunga to beat

Origin of ding²

Middle English dingen

Example Sentences

It’s like wrapping your Watch’s body in a little pillow fort that protects it from dings and dents.

From Popular-Science

If you spent a lot of money on a great set of headphones, you don’t want anything to ding or damage your beloved gear.

From Popular-Science

Mail customers have complained of dings on their credit scores and late fees from bills because the items were getting stuck in the mail.

From Washington Post

It’s why we can send money through apps like Venmo and hear the ding that it’s been received on the other person’s phone just a few seconds later.

From MIT Technology Review

Plus, the “little ding sound” that heralds a new message in the chat is easy to miss in the hubbub of a full classroom.

From Washington Post

I called it “ding-dong diplomacy”; Governor Richardson wisely pointed out that “basketball diplomacy” is better than none.

From The Daily Beast

She was going to be a point person on health-care reform, and they needed to ding her.

From The Daily Beast

The Official Charts Company described Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead as "one of the most controversial chart contenders of all time".

From The Daily Beast

In a back room, video poker machines ding and chirp with the occasional squeal of delight from a winner.

From The Daily Beast

Holmes and Rahe used 300 (ding ding ding) as the cutoff to predict a high risk of illness.

From The Daily Beast

I did so, and I had to report unfavourably, for “facts are chiels that winna ding.”

From Project Gutenberg

The suddenness and the emphasis of the ding told on unexpected nerves, but it brought the Fourth Reader class up erect.

From Project Gutenberg

No tedious ding-dong daily practice—just 20 brief, entertaining lessons, easily mastered.

From Project Gutenberg

The ding of her husband's cash register and the click of her dangle bag mark the systole and diastole of married life.

From Project Gutenberg

We have had a wonderful day with a wonderful en——” said Lil, a yawn hitting her midway so she could not get out the “ding.

From Project Gutenberg