Sing

Definitions

1. To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice.
   intransitive
2. To perform a vocal part in a musical composition, regardless of technique.
   intransitive
3. To express audibly by means of a harmonious vocalization.
   transitive
4. To soothe with singing.
   transitive
5. Of birds, to vocalise:
   ambitransitive
6. To produce a 'song', for the purposes of defending a breeding territory or to attract a mate.
   ambitransitive
7. To produce any type of melodious vocalisation.
   ambitransitive, literary
8. To confess under interrogation.
   intransitive, slang
9. To make a small, shrill sound.
   intransitive
10. To relate in verse; to celebrate in poetry.
11. To display fine qualities; to stand out as excellent.
    intransitive
12. To be capable of being sung; to produce a certain effect by being sung.
    ergative
13. In traditional Aboriginal culture, to direct a supernatural influence on (a person or thing), usually malign; to curse.
    Australia
14. To yell or shout.
    archaic, slang

Equivalents

10 more languages

العربيةغنى

Suomiveisata

Gàidhligceileiror

Italianocantare

日本語歌う詠鳴く

한국어詠노래부르다노래하다부르다+ 1 more

Latinahiosono

Nederlandszingen

Portuguêscantar

Русскийпетьспеть

Examples

“"I really want⟳ to sing⟳ in the school choir," said Vera.”

“sing⟳ a lullaby”

“In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.”

“to sing⟳ somebody to sleep⟳”

“⁠I do but sing⟳ because I must, And pipe but as the linnets sing⟳: And unto one her note⟳ is gay, ⁠For now her little ones have⟳ ranged; ⁠And unto one her note⟳ is changed, Because her brood is stol’n away.”

“The evening was still very warm, and the birds in the woods were singing in praise⟳ of spring⟳.”

“The air sings in passing through a crevice.”

“a singing kettle”

“O'er his head the flying spear / Sang innocent, and spent its force⟳ in air.”

“Again I bid the mournful Goddeſs write⟳ / The fond Purſuit of fugitive Delight: / Bid her exalt her melancholy Wing, / And rais'd from Earth, and ſav'd from Paſſion, ſing / Of human Hope⟳ by croſs Event deſtroyed, / Of uſeleſs Wealth, and Greatneſs unenjoy'd, […]”

“Who would not sing⟳ for Lycidas? he knew Himself to sing⟳, and build⟳ the lofty rhyme.”

“The sauce really makes this lamb sing⟳.”

“[Alissa Monte said] “This result⟳ was all about demonstrating that LZ [the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment⟳] works, and it does! As we take⟳ more data and mature our analyses, we get⟳ to make⟳ LZ sing⟳. […]””

“No song sings well unless it is open-vowelled, and has the rhythmic stress⟳ on the vowels. Tennyson's songs, for instance, are not generally adapted to music.”

“‘We sung them two real good. We never give⟳ Louis Beck no place⟳ to find⟳ rest⟳ from his torment.’”

“I took my flogging like⟳ a stone. If I had sung, some of the convicts would have⟳ given me some lush with a locust in it (laudanum hocussing), and when I was asleep would have⟳ given me a crack on the head that would have⟳ laid me straight.”

CEFR level