Word Study
Sing
CIDE DICTIONARY
Sing, v. i. [AS. singan; akin to D. zingen, OS. & OHG. singan, G. singen, Icel. syngja, Sw. sjunga, Dan. synge, Goth. siggwan, and perhaps to E. say, v.t., or cf. Gr. voice. Cf. Singe, Song.].
- To utter sounds with musical inflections or melodious modulations of voice, as fancy may dictate, or according to the notes of a song or tune, or of a given part (as alto, tenor, etc.) in a chorus or concerted piece. [1913 Webster]"The noise of them that sing do I hear." [1913 Webster]
- To utter sweet melodious sounds, as birds do. [1913 Webster]"On every bough the briddes heard I sing." [1913 Webster]"Singing birds, in silver cages hung." [1913 Webster]
- To make a small, shrill sound; as, the air sings in passing through a crevice. [1913 Webster]"O'er his head the flying spear
Sang innocent, and spent its force in air." [1913 Webster] - To tell or relate something in numbers or verse; to celebrate something in poetry. Milton. [1913 Webster]"Bid her . . . sing
Of human hope by cross event destroyed." [1913 Webster] - To cry out; to complain. [1913 Webster]"They should sing if thet they were bent." [1913 Webster]
Sing, v. t.
- To utter with musical inflections or modulations of voice. [1913 Webster]"And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb." [1913 Webster]"And in the darkness sing your carol of high praise." [1913 Webster]
- To celebrate in song; to give praises to in verse; to relate or rehearse in numbers, verse, or poetry. Milton. [1913 Webster]"Arms and the man I sing." [1913 Webster]"The last, the happiest British king,
Whom thou shalt paint or I shall sing." [1913 Webster] - To influence by singing; to lull by singing; as, to sing a child to sleep. [1913 Webster]
- To accompany, or attend on, with singing. [1913 Webster]"I heard them singing home the bride." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Sing, v. & n.
--v. (past sang; past part. sung)
1 intr. utter musical sounds with the voice, esp. words with a set tune.
2 tr. utter or produce by singing (sing another song).
3 intr. (of the wind, a kettle, etc.) make inarticulate melodious or humming, buzzing, or whistling sounds.
4 intr. (of the ears) be affected as with a buzzing sound.
5 intr. sl. turn informer; confess.
6 intr. archaic compose poetry.
7 tr. & (foll. by of) intr. celebrate in verse.
8 tr. (foll. by in, out) usher (esp. the new or old year) in or out with singing.
9 tr. bring to a specified state by singing (sang the child to sleep).
--n.
1 an act or spell of singing.
2 US a meeting for amateur singing.
--v. (past sang; past part. sung)
1 intr. utter musical sounds with the voice, esp. words with a set tune.
2 tr. utter or produce by singing (sing another song).
3 intr. (of the wind, a kettle, etc.) make inarticulate melodious or humming, buzzing, or whistling sounds.
4 intr. (of the ears) be affected as with a buzzing sound.
5 intr. sl. turn informer; confess.
6 intr. archaic compose poetry.
7 tr. & (foll. by of) intr. celebrate in verse.
8 tr. (foll. by in, out) usher (esp. the new or old year) in or out with singing.
9 tr. bring to a specified state by singing (sang the child to sleep).
--n.
1 an act or spell of singing.
2 US a meeting for amateur singing.
Idiom
sing-along a tune etc. to which one can sing in accompaniment. singing hinny see HINNY(2). singing saw = musical saw. sing out call out loudly; shout. sing the praises of see PRAISE. sing up sing more loudly.
Derivative
singable adj. singer n. singingly adv.
Etymology
OE singan f. Gmc
THESAURUS
Sing
anthem, babble, ballad, bark, bawl, be in heaven, be indiscreet, be pleased, be unguarded, beam, bellow, betray, betray a confidence, blab, blabber, blare, blat, blow the whistle, blubber, blurt, blurt out, boom, bray, breathe, buzz, cackle, call, caper, caracole, carol, caw, chant, chatter, cheep, chirk, chirp, chirr, chirrup, chitter, choir, choral service, chorus, chuck, clack, clap hands, climb Parnassus, cluck, cock-a-doodle-doo, compose poetry, coo, croak, cronk, croon, crow, cuckoo, dance, delight, descant, die with delight, do-re-mi, drawl, drum, eisteddfod, elegize, exclaim, exult, farewell performance, feel happy, flute, folk-music festival, folk-sing, frisk, frolic, gabble, gaggle, gambol, gasp, give away, glory, glow, go into raptures, gobble, groan, growl, grunt, guggle, hiss, honk, hoo, hoot, hootenanny, howl, hum, hymn, inform, inform on, intonate, intone, jam session, joy, jubilate, keen, laugh, leak, let drop, let fall, let slip, lilt, lisp in numbers, lull, lullaby, make immortal verse, minstrel, moan, mount Pegasus, mumble, murmur, music festival, musicale, mutter, nark, opera festival, pant, peach, peep, pimp, pip, pipe, poetize, psalm, purr, quack, quaver, radiate cheer, rat, rejoice, reveal a secret, revel, roar, rock festival, roll, rollick, romp, roulade, rumble, scold, scream, screech, serenade, service of song, shake, shriek, sibilate, sigh, sing deathless songs, sing in chorus, sing-in, singfest, singing, singsong, skip, skip for joy, smile, snap, snarl, snitch, snort, sob, sol-fa, solmizate, sough, sparkle, spill, spill the beans, squall, squawk, squeak, squeal, stool, swan song, take great satisfaction, talk, tattle, tattle on, tell, tell on, tell secrets, tell tales, thunder, tread on air, tremolo, trill, troll, trumpet, tune, twang, tweedle, tweedledee, tweet, twit, twitter, verse, versify, vocalize, wail, warble, whine, whisper, whistle, write poetry, yap, yawp, yell, yelp, yodelROGET THESAURUS
Sing
Poetry
VB poetize, sing, versify, make verses, rhyme, scan.Rejoicing
VB rejoice, thank one's stars, bless one's stars, congratulate oneself, hug oneself, rub one's hands, clap one's hands, smack the lips, fling up one's cap, dance, skip, sing, carol, chirrup, chirp, hurrah, cry for joy, jump for joy, leap with joy, exult, triumph, hold jubilee, make merry, laugh, raise laughter.Musician
VB play, pipe, strike up, sweep the chords, tweedle, fiddle, strike the lyre, beat the drum, blow the horn, sound the horn, wind the horn, doodle, grind the organ, touch the guitar, thrum, strum, beat time, execute, perform, accompany, sing a second, play a second, compose, set to music, arrange, sing, chaunt, chant, hum, warble, carol, chirp, chirrup, lilt, purl, quaver, trill, shake, twitter, whistle, sol-fa, intone, have an ear for music, have a musical ear, have a correct ear.Disclosure
VB disclose, discover, dismask, draw the veil, draw aside the veil, lift the veil, raise the veil, lift up the veil, remove the veil, tear aside the veil, tear the curtain, unmask, unveil, unfold, uncover, unseal, unkennel, take off the seal, break the seal, lay open, lay bare, expose, open, open up, bare, bring to light, divulge, reveal, break, squeal, tattle, sing, rat, snitch, let into the secret, reveal the secrets of the prison house, tell, breathe, utter, blab, peach, let out, let fall, let drop, let slip, spill the beans, let the cat out of the bag, betray, tell tales, come out of school, come out with, give vent, give utterance to, open the lips, blurt out, vent, whisper about, speak out, make public, unriddle, split, acknowledge, allow, concede, grant, admit, own, own up to, confess, avow, throw off all disguise, turn inside out, make a clean breast, show one's hand, show one's cards, unburden one's mind, disburden one's mind, disburden one's conscience, disburden one's heart, open one's mind, lay bare one's mind, tell a piece of one's mind, unbosom oneself, own to the soft impeachment, say the truth, speak the truth, turn King's evidence, Queen's evidence, acknowledge the corn, raise the mask, drop the mask, lift the mask, remove the mask, throw off the mask, expose, lay open, undeceive, unbeguile, disabuse, set right, correct, open the eyes of, d_esillusionner, be disclosed, transpire, come to light, come in sight, become known, escape the lips, come out, ooze out, creep out, leak out, peep out, crop-out, show its face, show its colors, discover itself, break through the clouds, flash on the mind.For further exploring for "Sing" in Webster Dictionary Online