Dictionary
sing
Pronunciation: (sing), [key]
—v., sang or, often, sung; sung; sing•ing;
—n.
—
v.i.
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.
—
v.t.
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.
7. sing out, Informal.to call in a loud voice; shout:
They lost their way in the cavern and sang out for help.
—
n.
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.
sing.
singular.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
