[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

ring \ring\, n. as. hring, hrinc; akin to fries. hring, d.  g.
   ring, ohg. ring, hring, icel. hringr, dan.  sw. ring; cf.
   russ. krug'. cf. harangue, rank a row,rink.
   a circle, or a circular line, or anything in the form of a
   circular line or hoop.
   1913 webster

   2. specifically, a circular ornament of gold or other
      precious material worn on the finger, or attached to the
      ear, the nose, or some other part of the person; as, a
      wedding ring.
      1913 webster

            upon his thumb he had of gold a ring. --chaucer.
      1913 webster

            the dearest ring in venice will i give you. --shak.
      1913 webster

   3. a circular area in which races are or run or other sports
      are performed; an arena.
      1913 webster

            place me, o, place me in the dusty ring,
            where youthful charioteers contend for glory. --e.
                                                  smith.
      1913 webster

   4. an inclosed space in which pugilists fight; hence,
      figuratively, prize fighting. "the road was an
      institution, the ring was an institution." --thackeray.
      1913 webster

   5. a circular group of persons.
      1913 webster

            and hears the muses in a ring
            aye round about jove's alter sing.    --milton.
      1913 webster

   6. geom.
      a the plane figure included between the circumferences
          of two concentric circles.
      b the solid generated by the revolution of a circle, or
          other figure, about an exterior straight line as an
          axis lying in the same plane as the circle or other
          figure.
          1913 webster

   7. astron.  navigation an instrument, formerly used for
      taking the sun's altitude, consisting of a brass ring
      suspended by a swivel, with a hole at one side through
      which a solar ray entering indicated the altitude on the
      graduated inner surface opposite.
      1913 webster

   8. bot. an elastic band partly or wholly encircling the
      spore cases of ferns. see illust. of sporangium.
      1913 webster

   9. a clique; an exclusive combination of persons for a
      selfish purpose, as to control the market, distribute
      offices, obtain contracts, etc.
      1913 webster

            the ruling ring at constantinople.    --e. a.
                                                  freeman.
      1913 webster

   ring armor, armor composed of rings of metal. see ring
      mail, below, and chain mail, under chain.

   ring blackbird zool., the ring ousel.

   ring canal zool., the circular water tube which surrounds
      the esophagus of echinoderms.

   ring dotterel, or ringed dotterel. zool. see
      dotterel, and illust. of pressiroster.

   ring dropper, a sharper who pretends to have found a ring
      dropped by himself, and tries to induce another to buy
      it as valuable, it being worthless.

   ring fence. see under fence.

   ring finger, the third finger of the left hand, or the next
      the little finger, on which the ring is placed in
      marriage.

   ring formula chem., a graphic formula in the shape of a
      closed ring, as in the case of benzene, pyridine, etc. see
      illust. under benzene.

   ring mail, a kind of mail made of small steel rings sewed
      upon a garment of leather or of cloth.

   ring micrometer. astron. see circular micrometer, under
      micrometer.

   saturn's rings. see saturn.

   ring ousel. zool. see ousel.

   ring parrot zool., any one of several species of old
      world parrakeets having a red ring around the neck,
      especially palaeornis torquatus, common in india, and
      palaeornis alexandri of java.

   ring plover. zool.
      a the ringed dotterel.
      b any one of several small american plovers having a
          dark ring around the neck, as the semipalmated plover
          aegialitis semipalmata.

   ring snake zool., a small harmless american snake
      diadophis punctatus having a white ring around the
      neck. the back is ash-colored, or sage green, the belly of
      an orange red.

   ring stopper. naut. see under stopper.

   ring thrush zool., the ring ousel.

   the prize ring, the ring in which prize fighters contend;
      prize fighters, collectively.

   the ring.
      a the body of sporting men who bet on horse races.
          eng.
      b the prize ring.
          1913 webster
see also:
harangue rank rink sporangium ring armor ring mail 
chain mail chain ring blackbird ring canal ring dotterel 
ringed dotterel dotterel pressiroster ring dropper ring fence 
fence ring finger ring formula benzene ring mail 
ring micrometer circular micrometer micrometer saturn's rings saturn 
ring ousel ousel ring parrot palaeornis torquatus palaeornis alexandri 
java ring plover aegialitis semipalmata ring snake diadophis punctatus 
ring stopper stopper ring thrush the prize ring the ring 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

fence \fence\ fe^ns, n. abbrev. from defence.
   1. that which fends off attack or danger; a defense; a
      protection; a cover; security; shield.
      1913 webster

            let us be backed with god and with the seas,
            which he hath given for fence impregnable. --shak.
      1913 webster

            a fence betwixt us and the victor's wrath.
                                                  --addison.
      1913 webster

   2. an inclosure about a field or other space, or about any
      object; especially, an inclosing structure of wood, iron,
      or other material, intended to prevent intrusion from
      without or straying from within.
      1913 webster

            leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

   note: in england a hedge, ditch, or wall, as well as a
         structure of boards, palings, or rails, is called a
         fence.
         1913 webster

   3. locks a projection on the bolt, which passes through the
      tumbler gates in locking and unlocking.
      1913 webster

   4. self-defense by the use of the sword; the art and practice
      of fencing and sword play; hence, skill in debate and
      repartee. see fencing.
      1913 webster

            enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric,
            that hath so well been taught her dazzing fence.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

            of dauntless courage and consummate skill in fence.
                                                  --macaulay.
      1913 webster

   5. a receiver of stolen goods, or a place where they are
      received. slang --mayhew.
      1913 webster

   fence month forest law, the month in which female deer
      are fawning, when hunting is prohibited. --bullokar.

   fence roof, a covering for defense. "they fitted their
      shields close to one another in manner of a fence roof."
      --holland.

   fence time, the breeding time of fish or game, when they
      should not be killed.

   rail fence, a fence made of rails, sometimes supported by
      posts.

   ring fence, a fence which encircles a large area, or a
      whole estate, within one inclosure.

   worm fence, a zigzag fence composed of rails crossing one
      another at their ends; -- called also snake fence, or
      virginia rail fence.

   to be on the fence, to be undecided or uncommitted in
      respect to two opposing parties or policies. colloq.
      1913 webster
see also:
fencing fence month fence roof fence time rail fence ring fence 
worm fence snake fence virginia rail fence to be on the fence 

Annual Ring >> A Words
Annual Ring, definition of term: Annual Ring
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