n.

1. a characteristic sound
   
   • it has the ring of sincerity
2. a toroidal shape;
   halo, annulus, anulus, doughnut, anchor ring
   
   • a ring of ships in the harbor
   • a halo of smoke
3. a rigid circular band of metal or wood or other material used for holding or fastening or hanging or pulling;
   hoop
   
   • there was still a rusty iron hoop for tying a horse
4. (chemistry) a chain of atoms in a molecule that forms a closed loop;
   closed chain
5. an association of criminals;
   gang, pack, mob
   
   • police tried to break up the gang
   • a pack of thieves
6. the sound of a bell ringing; "the distinctive ring of the church bell"; "the ringing of the telephone"; "the tintinnabulation that so voluminously swells from the ringing and the dinging of the bells"--E. A. Poe;
   ringing, tintinnabulation
7. a square platform marked off by ropes in which contestants box or wrestle
8. jewelry consisting of a circlet of precious metal (often set with jewels) worn on the finger;
   band
   
   • she had rings on every finger
   • he noted that she wore a wedding band
9. a strip of material attached to the leg of a bird to identify it (as in studies of bird migration);
   band

v.

1. sound loudly and sonorously;
   peal
   
   • the bells rang
2. ring or echo with sound;
   resound, echo, reverberate
   
   • the hall resounded with laughter
3. make (bells) ring, often for the purposes of musical edification;
   knell
   
   • Ring the bells
   • My uncle rings every Sunday at the local church
4. be around;
   surround, environ, encircle, circle, round
   
   • Developments surround the town
   • The river encircles the village
5. get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone;
   call, telephone, call up, phone
   
   • I tried to call you all night
   • Take two aspirin and call me in the morning
6. attach a ring to the foot of, in order to identify;
   band
   
   • ring birds
   • band the geese to observe their migratory patterns