zinginghttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zinging_adj%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezinging, adj.
Revised 2021

zingingadjective

colloquial (originally U.S.).
    1. 1.a.
      1915–
      Designating something (esp. a rapidly moving object) making a sharp, high-pitched ringing or whining sound. Also more generally: designating something moving, hit, or thrown with great speed.
      1. 1915
        You reasoned that the bullets which detonated like loud toy torpedoes, in the mud, on trees, on brick, were the ones to ignore. The singing, zinging ones that passed you by were the devils that might...
        Boston Evening Globe 27 February (Evening edition) 1/4
      2. 1934
        A zinging drive down the fairway.
        Hammond (Indiana) Times 14 April (Final edition) 7/4 (advertisement)
      3. 1952
        He took the opposite direction with the sound of zinging bullets to bring him back.
        Courier (Pittsburgh) 13 September (City edition) 22/1
      4. 2007
        It was the instant noise level that set him off: zinging machines, musical dancing animals, and kids shrieking.
        A. Boushéy, Talking Teenagers 76
      5. 2016
        Penrose peeled off a zinging shot that Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan got a big toe on.
        Belfast Telegraph (Nexis) 16 July (Sport section) 46
    2. 1.b.
      1930–
      Designating a sharp, high-pitched ringing or whining sound, esp. one made by a rapidly moving object.
      1. 1930
        Before he could move, a thin, zinging sound slit the hot stillness.
        C. B. Moten, Black Lily in Pittsburgh Courier 6 December ii. 3/1
      2. 1970
        There was a sharp pop, a clang, and the zinging noise of a ricocheting bullet.
        ‘D. Halliday’, Dolly & Cookie Bird xi. 170
      3. 1978
        The air was..full of the zinging cries of cicadas.
        G. Durrell, Garden of Gods iii. 59
      4. 1990
        Jimy would..shoot his pistol at the boulders, causing the bullets to ricochet all around with mean, zinging whines.
        R. Bass in S. Ravenel, New Stories from South (1991) 207
  1. 2.
    1931–
    That abounds with energy or excitement; vibrant, lively.
    1. 1931
      Work better. Play heartier. Glory in that zinging urge that overflows from a body perfectly fit.
      Manitoba Free Press 11 May 9/3 (advertisement)
    2. 1985
      A lovely zinging pleasure passed through me.
      A. Rice, Vampire Lestat 100
    3. 2004
      Price aims to sustain a zinging palette of color combinations.
      House Beautiful April 114
    4. 2015
      If shows this bold and popular haven't made the cut, what has? The answer, of course, is plenty of similarly zinging fare, from Sherlock to Peaky Blinders to Marvellous.
      Radio Times 9 May (South/West edition) 54/1
  2. 3.
    1944–
    Of a blow, stroke, etc.: delivered quickly and sharply; stinging.
    1. 1944
      He pawed his left in the face of an imaginary foe, bringing over two zinging rights.
      Washington Post 24 January 8/3
    2. 1972
      She beat me like a rug, pounded me like dough, using karate chops, zinging finger stabs, incredible flicks.
      Daily Telegraph 4 February (Colour Supplement) 8/3
    3. 2011
      Against Mitchell's zinging jab, Wylie was the aggressor for most of the five two-minute rounds.
      yorkpress.co.uk 15 March (accessed 23 Mar. 2020)
  3. 4.
    1972–
    Of a remark, observation, etc.: quick-witted, clever, pithy; striking, memorable; pointed, piercing. Cf. zinger n. 2b.
    1. 1972
      It is the nature of Miss Rivers' technique to be a zinging one-liner specialist, and she is good at it.
      Lebanon (Pennsylvania) Daily News 4 January 17/5
    2. 1989
      He runs the clubhouse card games and keeps his teammates honest with zinging wisecracks.
      St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 8 September (Sports section) 1d
    3. 1997
      The dialogue..shows her abundant talent for lowbrow repartee and the zinging insult.
      Variety (Nexis) 28 April 103
    4. 2019
      Revenge is a dish best served on stage with a zinging punchline.
      @rcscribbler 8 May in twitter.com (accessed 26 Aug. 2020)

Originally published as part of the entry for zing, v.

zinging, adj. was revised in March 2021.

zinging, adj. was last modified in July 2023.