Ring

ring [countable]

1

jewellery

a piece of jewellery that you wear on your finger:

a diamond ring

a plain silver ring

2

circle

a) an object in the shape of a circle:

a rubber ring for children to go swimming with

onion rings

a key ring

➔ napkin ring

b) a circular line or mark

ring around

She left a dirty ring around the bath.

ring round British English

a ring round the moon

c) a group of people or things arranged in a circle

ring of

A ring of armed troops surrounded the building.

The city was overlooked by a ring of high-rise buildings.

3

 give somebody a ring

British English informal to make a telephone call to someone:

I'll give you a ring later in the week.

4

bells

the sound made by a bell or the act of making this sound:

a ring at the doorbell

5

criminals

a group of people who illegally control a business or criminal activity:

Are you aware that a drugs ring is being operated in the club?

Secret files reveal an Oxford spy ring.

6

 have the/a ring of something

if a statement or argument has a ring of truth, confidence etc, it seems as if it has this quality:

His explanation has the ring of truth.

7

 have a familiar ring

if something has a familiar ring, you feel that you have heard it before:

His voice had a strangely familiar ring.

8

 run rings around somebody

informal to be able to do something much better than someone else can:

I'm sure you can run rings round him.

9

cooking

British English one of the circular areas on top of a cookerthat is heated by gas or electricity [↪ hob; = burner AmE]

a gas ring

10

sport

a) a small square area surrounded by ropes, where people box orwrestle ➔ ringside

b) 

the ring

the sport of boxing:

He retired from the ring at 34.

11

entertainment

a large circular area surrounded by seats at a circus

WORD CHOICE: 

call, phone, telephone, ringIn spoken English, it is usual to say that you call or phone someone• He calls me almost every day.• Phone me when you get there.In spoken British English, it is also very usual to say that you ringsomeone• Have you rung Kim yet?It is fairly formal and not very usual in spoken English to say that youtelephone someone.!! Do not say that you 'call to' someone• I called him (NOT called to him) to let him know.!! There is no verb 'phone call'• I need to call (NOT to phone call) Monica.You can also say that you give someone a (phone) call or, in British English, give them a ring• Give me a call sometime.• I think I'll give Mum a ring.!! Do not say 'give someone a phone'.➔ See also call

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.