sing

Etymology

From Middle English singen, from Old English singan, from Proto-Germanic *singwaną, from Proto-Indo-European *sengʷʰ-.

Pronunciation

• enPR: sĭng, IPA^(key): /sɪŋ/

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• Rhymes: -ɪŋ

Verb

sing (third-person singular simple present sings, present participle singing, simple past sang, past participle sung or (archaic) sungen)

1. (intransitive) To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice.

   "I really want to sing in the school choir," said Vera.

2. (transitive) To express audibly by means of a harmonious vocalization.
   • 1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, “The Tutor's Daughter”, in Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion‎, page 266:

     In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.

3. (transitive) To soothe with singing.

   to sing somebody to sleep

4. (intransitive, slang) To confess under interrogation.
5. To make a small, shrill sound.

   The air sings in passing through a crevice.

   a singing kettle

   • Alexander Pope

     O'er his head the flying spear / Sang innocent, and spent its force in air.

6. To relate in verse; to celebrate in poetry.
   • Prior

     Bid her […] sing / Of human hope by cross event destroyed.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)

7. (intransitive) To display fine qualities; to stand out as excellent.

   The sauce really makes this lamb sing.

Noun

sing (plural sings)

1. A gathering at which people sing songs.
   • 2002, Martha Mizell Puckett, Hoyle B. Puckett, Memories of a Georgia Teacher: Fifty Years in the Classroom, page 198:

     Some of the young folks asked Mrs. Long could they have a sing at her home that Sunday afternoon; she readily agreed, telling them to come early, bring their songbooks, and have a good sing.

   • 2016, Kerry Greenwood, Murder and Mendelssohn, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, page 287:

     'Ah, yes, Miss Fisher, have you had a nice sing?'

See also

• singe

Anagrams

• IGNs, NGIs, gins, ings, nigs, sign, snig

Etymology

From Dutch zingen.

Verb

sing (present sing, present participle singende, past participle gesing)

1. to sing

Etymology

Borrowed from German. First attested in 1368.^[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈʃiŋɡ]

Noun

sing (plural singek)

1. (archaic) cubit (a unit of linear measure, no longer in use, originally equal to the length of the forearm)

References