zinging, n.

zinging
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zinging_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 2021

# zingingnoun

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zinging mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zinging. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How is the noun zinging pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzɪŋɪŋ/
ZING-ing

#### U.S. English

/ˈzɪŋɪŋ/
ZING-ing

### Where does the noun zinging come from?

Earliest known use

1920s

The earliest known use of the noun zinging is in the 1920s.

OED's earliest evidence for zinging is from 1921, in American Angler.

zinging is formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: zing v., ‑ing suffix1.

### Nearby entries

1. Zingaro, n. 1600–
2. zingel, n. 1803–
3. zingelin perch, n. 1803
4. zinger, n. 1906–
5. Zingg, n. 1941–
6. zingho, n. 1743
7. zingiber, n.?1720–
8. zingiberaceous, adj. 1821–
9. zingily, adv. 1951–
10. zinginess, n. 1938–
11. zinging, n.1921–
12. zinging, adj. 1915–
13. zingingly, adv. 1952–
14. zingo, int. 1906–
15. zingy, adj. 1938–
16. Zinjanthropus, n. 1959–
17. zinke, n. 1773–
18. zinnia, n. 1761–
19. zinnober green, n. 1879–
20. zinnwaldite, n. 1850–
21. zino, n. 1982–

## Etymology

### Summary

Formed within English, by derivation.
< zing v. + ‑ing suffix1.

## Meaning & use

colloquial (originally U.S.).

1. 1921–
   A sharp, high-pitched ringing, buzzing, or whining sound.
   1. 1921

      > Not a sound could be heard save the faint zinging of a host of beastly gnats peek-a-boo-ing round our faces.

      American Angler August 204/1
   2. 1980

      > Becker..lay flat on his stomach through the hideous crashes of the explosions, the zinging of mortar, shell and stone fragments flying about, the tangy smell of cordite.

      A. McCandless, Leap in Dark viii. 149
   3. 2010

      > He said he had a ‘zinging’ in his ears.

      Washington Post (Nexis) 21 January (Met 2 edition) 1
   U.S. English colloquial and slang
   1. ringing a1398–
      The fact of a bell or something similar making a sound; the sound produced by a bell or other resonant object. Also in extended use.
   2. tinkling a1398–
      The sensation of ringing in the ear; tinnitus. Also: †the sensation of tingling or prickling of the skin (obsolete). Now rare.
   3. sibilus c1400
      A hissing in the ears. Obsolete.
   4. sounding 1600
      = ringing, n.¹ 2. Obsolete. rare.
   5. singing 1605–
      A sound of a musical character having its origin in the ears or head.
   6. bombus 1668–1739
      Medicine. Noise in the form of rumbling or gurgling sounds, made by the movement of gas in the gastrointestinal tract; borborygmus. Also: noise of…
   7. head noise 1871–
      A noise perceived as occurring within the head (often as a form of tinnitus); noise of this nature.
   8. tympanophony 1899–
      A sensation of ringing in the ears (cf. tympanum, n. 2).
   9. zinging 1921–
      A sharp, high-pitched ringing, buzzing, or whining sound.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. buzzing 1495–
      A sibilant humming.
   2. beming a1522
      Trumpeting; transferred noisy buzzing.
   3. fuzzing 1676
   4. bumble 1834–
      A buzzing or humming noise. Cf. bumbling, n.¹
   5. Z-ing 1852–
      Used (usually repeated) to represent a buzzing sound; also conventionally representing the sound of snoring. Hence Z-ing n., and as v. intransitive…
   6. zizz 1860–
      A buzzing or whizzing sound, such as that made by the rapid motion of a wheel; (also) a movement accompanied by such a sound.
   7. zizzing 1884–
      A buzzing or whizzing sound; movement or activity accompanied by such a sound. Also figurative.
   8. zinging 1921–
      A sharp, high-pitched ringing, buzzing, or whining sound.
   9. tizziness 1976–
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. howling c1440–
      The uttering of a prolonged wailing cry, as by the dog, wolf, or other animal; the production of a similar sound by the wind or other inanimate…
   2. howl a1616–
      The prolonged and mournful cry of a dog, wolf, etc., which dwells upon the vowel u /u:/ or some kindred sound; the similar sound of the wind or…
   3. wail 1825–
      transferred. A sound resembling a cry of pain, especially a prolonged, loud, high-pitched sound.
   4. zinging 1921–
      A sharp, high-pitched ringing, buzzing, or whining sound.
   5. bloop 1931–
      A plopping sound; a howling sound.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɪŋɪŋ/
ZING-ing

### U.S. English

/ˈzɪŋɪŋ/
ZING-ing

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

zinging, n. was first published in March 2021.

zinging, n. was last modified in July 2023.