sing

¹

[ sing ]

verb (used without object)

, sang [sang] or, often, sung [suhng]; sung; sing·ing.

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)

, sang [sang] or, often, sung [suhng]; sung; sing·ing.

1. to utter with musical modulations of the voice, as a song.
2. to escort or accompany with singing.
3. to proclaim enthusiastically.
4. to bring, send, put, etc., with or by singing:

   She sang the baby to sleep.

5. to chant or intone:

   to sing mass.

6. to tell or praise in verse or song.

noun

1. the act or performance of singing.
2. a gathering or meeting of persons for the purpose of singing:

   a community sing.

3. a singing, ringing, or whistling sound, as of a bullet.

verb phrase

1. Informal. to call in a loud voice; shout:

   They lost their way in the cavern and sang out for help.

sing.

²

abbreviation for

1. singular.

sing

¹

/ sɪŋ /

verb

1. to produce or articulate (sounds, words, a song, etc) with definite and usually specific musical intonation
2. whenintr, often foll by to to perform (a song) to the accompaniment (of)

   to sing to a guitar

3. intrfoll byof to tell a story or tale in song (about)

   I sing of a maiden

4. intrfoll byto 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. whenintr, usually foll by of 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.
    intr to confess or act as an informer
13. intr (in Aboriginal witchcraft) to bring about a person's death by incantation. The same power can sometimes be used beneficently

noun

1. informal.
   an act or performance of singing
2. a ringing or whizzing sound, as of bullets

sing.

²

abbreviation for

1. singular

Usage

See ring 2

Derived Forms

• ˈsingable, adjective
• ˈsinging, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• singa·ble adjective
• singa·bili·ty singa·ble·ness noun
• singing·ly adverb
• mis·sing verb missang missung missinging
• un·singa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sing¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sing¹

Old English singan; related to Old Norse syngja to sing, Gothic siggwan, Old High German singan

Example Sentences

In one passage, a man drives along L.A.’s concrete arteries, and several women on the street sing “freeway” in mystical harmonies.

From Los Angeles Times

“I always say you sing when words no longer suffice,” Gracey says.

From Los Angeles Times

Never underestimate boomers’ allegiance to nostalgia you can sing along with.

From Los Angeles Times

"I walked past a prisoner the other day who shouted, 'sing us a song'."

From BBC

The hair and the suits, and I remember Cuban heel boots, and they had these guitars that we’d never seen before … and then they started singing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• belt out
• chant
• croon
• hum
• intone
• serenade
• shout
• wait
• warble
• whistle