sing Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb deliver by singing
    • Sing Christmas carols
  2. verb produce tones with the voice
    • She was singing while she was cooking
    • My brother sings very well
  3. verb to make melodious sounds
    • The nightingale was singing
  4. verb make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound
    whistle.
    • the kettle was singing
    • the bullet sang past his ear
  5. verb divulge confidential information or secrets
    let the cat out of the bag; peach; babble; spill the beans; babble out; tattle; blab out; blab; talk.
    • Be careful--his secretary talks

WordNet

Sing intransitive verb
Etymology
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.
Wordforms
imperfect Sung or Sang ; past participle Sung; present participle & verbal noun Singing
Definitions
  1. 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.
    The noise of them that sing do I hear. Ex. xxxii. 18.
  2. To utter sweet melodious sounds, as birds do.
    On every bough the briddes heard I sing. Chaucer.
    Singing birds, in silver cages hung. Dryden.
  3. To make a small, shrill sound; as, the air sings in passing through a crevice.
    O'er his head the flying spear Sang innocent, and spent its force in air. Pope.
  4. To tell or relate something in numbers or verse; to celebrate something in poetry. Milton.
    Bid her . . . sing Of human hope by cross event destroyed. Prior.
  5. Ti cry out; to complain. Obs.
    They should sing if thet they were bent. Chaucer.
Sing transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To utter with musical infections or modulations of voice.
    And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. Rev. xv. 3.
    And in the darkness sing your carol of high praise. Keble.
  2. To celebrate is song; to give praises to in verse; to relate or rehearse in numbers, verse, or poetry. Milton.
    Arms and the man I sing. Dryden.
    The last, the happiest British king, Whom thou shalt paint or I shall sing. Addison.
  3. To influence by singing; to lull by singing; as, to sing a child to sleep.
  4. To accompany, or attend on, with singing.
    I heard them singing home the bride. Longfellow.

Webster 1913