Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small dent or impression in a surface: A ding is a minor depression or mark, typically caused by an impact or blow.
   • A short, ringing sound: A ding is a clear, metallic, bell-like sound, often high-pitched.

2. Verb:

   • To make a short, ringing sound: To ding means to produce a sharp, metallic ringing noise.
   • To dent or damage slightly: To ding means to cause a small dent or minor damage to a surface.

Examples

• Noun:

  • There's a small ding in the car door from a shopping cart.
  • The ding of the microwave signaled that my food was ready.

• Verb:

  • The bell will ding when the elevator arrives.
  • I accidentally dinged the wall with the corner of the table.

Advanced Usage

• "to ding someone/something" (informal): to criticize or penalize slightly.

  • The reviewer dinged the movie for its weak ending.
  • My credit score got dinged for a late payment.

• "to take a ding": to suffer minor damage or a setback.

  • The company's reputation took a ding after the scandal.

Variants and Related Words

• Ding-dong (noun): The sound of a bell ringing alternately; also used informally for a lively argument.
  • We could hear the ding-dong of the church bells.
• Dinged (adjective): Having minor dents or damage.
  • I bought the dinged appliance at a discount.

Synonyms

• Noun (dent): Dent, nick, scratch.
• Noun (sound): Chime, ring, ping.
• Verb (sound): Chime, ring, clang.
• Verb (damage): Dent, nick, mar.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Ding on (someone) (informal): To criticize or nag someone repeatedly about something.
  • My boss keeps dinging on me about the report format.

Related Idioms

• Ding-a-ling (slang, noun): A silly or eccentric person.
  • Don't mind him, he's a bit of a ding-a-ling.
• Ding-dong battle/fight: A fierce, evenly-matched contest or argument.
  • The two tennis players were engaged in a real ding-dong battle.

Noun

1. an impression in a surface (as made by a blow)
2. a ringing sound

Verb

1. go `ding dong', like a bell