an imperial dynasty of China (960–1279 ad), notable for its art, literature, and philosophy
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
sing /sɪŋ/USA pronunciation
v., sang /sæŋ/USA pronunciation or, often, sung /sʌŋ/USA pronunciation ;
sung;
sing•ing, n.
v.
n. [countable]
sing•er, n. [countable]
sing., an abbreviation of:
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026sung;
sing•ing, n.
v.
- Music and Dance to make words or sounds one after the other, with musical changes in the pitch or tone of the voice:[no object]All the members of my family can sing.
- to perform (songs or music) with the voice: [no object]Once she sang on national TV.[~ + object]They sang some old tunes around the campfire.
- to bring, send, etc., into a certain condition with or by such musical sound:[~ + object]to sing a baby to sleep.
- Animal Behavior(of an animal) to produce a signal with the voice: [no object]Some birds sing to attract a mate.[~ + object]Birds sing very specific songs.
- to tell about someone or something in verse or song, esp. with enthusiasm or admiration:[~ + of + object]to sing of the times of King Arthur.
- to proclaim with enthusiasm:[~ + object]to sing someone's praises (= to praise someone).
- to make a whistling or whizzing sound:[no object]The bullet sang past his ear.
- Slang Terms[no object]to confess or act as an informer by telling the authorities about some crime or criminals.
n. [countable]
- Music and Dancea meeting of people for singing:a community sing.
sing•er, n. [countable]
sing., an abbreviation of:
- singular.
sung (sung),USA pronunciation v.
Sung (sŏŏng),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a pt. and pp. of sing.
Sung (sŏŏng),USA pronunciation n.
- Ancient History, Biographicala dynasty in China,a.d. 960–1279, characterized by a high level of achievement in painting, ceramics, and philosophy: overthrown by the Mongols.
sing
(sing),USA pronunciation v., sang or, often, sung;
sung;
sing•ing;
n.
v.i.
v.t.
n.
sing′a•ble, adj.
sing′a•bil′i•ty, sing′a•ble•ness, n.
sing′ing•ly, adv.
sing.,
sung;
sing•ing;
n.
v.i.
- Music and Danceto utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice;
vocalize melodically. - Music and Danceto perform a song or voice composition:She promised to sing for us.
- Animal Behaviorto produce melodious sounds, usually high in pitch, as certain birds, insects, etc.:The nightingale sang in the tree.
- to compose poetry:Keats sang briefly but gloriously.
- to tell about or praise someone or something in verse or song:He sang of the warrior's prowess.
- to admit of being sung, as verses:This lyric sings well.
- to give out a continuous ringing, whistling, murmuring, burbling, or other euphonious sound, as a teakettle or a brook.
- to make a short whistling, ringing, or whizzing sound:The bullet sang past his ear.
- (of an electrical amplifying system) to produce an undesired self-sustained oscillation.
- to have the sensation of a ringing or humming sound, as the ears.
- Slang Termsto confess or act as an informer;
squeal.
v.t.
- Music and Danceto utter with musical modulations of the voice, as a song.
- Music and Danceto escort or accompany with singing.
- to proclaim enthusiastically.
- to bring, send, put, etc., with or by singing:She sang the baby to sleep.
- Music and Danceto chant or intone:to sing mass.
- to tell or praise in verse or song.
- sing out, [Informal.]to call in a loud voice;
shout:They lost their way in the cavern and sang out for help.
n.
- Music and Dancethe act or performance of singing.
- Music and Dancea gathering or meeting of persons for the purpose of singing:a community sing.
- a singing, ringing, or whistling sound, as of a bullet.
- bef. 900; Middle English singen, Old English singan; cognate with Dutch zingen, German singen, Old Norse syngva, Gothic siggwan
sing′a•bil′i•ty, sing′a•ble•ness, n.
sing′ing•ly, adv.
sing.,
- singular.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
to produce or articulate (sounds, words, a song, etc) with definite and usually specific musical intonation - when intr, often followed by to:
to perform (a song) to the accompaniment (of): to sing to a guitar - (intransitive) followed by of:
to tell a story or tale in song (about): I sing of a maiden - (intransitive)
to perform songs for a living, as a professional singer - (intransitive)
(esp of certain birds and insects) to utter calls or sounds reminiscent of music - when intr, usually followed by of:
to tell (something) or give praise (to someone), esp in verse: the poet who sings of the Trojan dead - (intransitive)
to make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound: the kettle is singing, the arrow sang past his ear - (intransitive)
(of the ears) to experience a continuous ringing or humming sound - (transitive)
to bring to a given state by singing: to sing a child to sleep - (intransitive)
to confess or act as an informer
an act or performance of singing
'Sung' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Adon Olam
- Agnus Dei
- Anglican chant
- Chao K'uang-yin
- Cherubicon
- Dies Irae
- High Mass
- Internationale
- Jim Crow
- Kim Il Sung
- Kim Jong Il
- Lee
- Lillibullero
- Linus
- Low Mass
- Marseillaise
- Mass
- Song
- ablaut
- abovementioned
- accent
- anthem
- antiphon
- antiphony
- antistrophe
- aria
- art song
- aubade
- ballad
- barbershop
- belter
- broadside
- canon
- canticum
- cantillate
- cantoris
- chant
- chantey
- choral
- chorus
- common
- communion
- countermelody
- decani
- dirge
- ditty
- dot
- drink
- elegy
- evensong