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zing

(zĭng)

1. A brief high-pitched humming or buzzing sound, such as that made by a swiftly passing object or a taut vibrating string.

2. Liveliness, intensity, or piquancy: I added lime juice to the sauce to give it more zing.

v. zinged, zing·ing, zings

v. intr.

1. To make a zing.

2. To move swiftly with or as if with a zing: an arrow zinging toward its target.

3. Informal To be vivacious or lively: a conversation zinging along.

v. tr.
Informal

1. To attack verbally; criticize sharply: zing an opponent in a debate.

2. To strike suddenly.

[Imitative.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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