| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | singan |
1 to produce a musical sound with your voice :
She can sing beautifully.
Most children enjoy singing. ➔ singing
with your voice
[intransitive and transitive]APM
She can sing beautifully.
Most children enjoy singing.2 if birds sing, they produce high musical sounds :
I could hear the birds singing outside my window.
birds
[intransitive]HBB
I could hear the birds singing outside my window.3 to make a high whistling sound :
A kettle was singing on the stove.
high noise
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]
A kettle was singing on the stove.5 to say something different from what you said before :
You're singing a different tune now!
sing a different tune
You're singing a different tune now!6 used to say that a group of people all have the same aims or all express the same opinion on a particular subject :
Union representatives are all singing from the same hymn sheet on the issue of pay.
be singing from the same hymn sheet/book
Union representatives are all singing from the same hymn sheet on the issue of pay.7 to tell people everything you know about a crime when they ask you questions about it - used especially by criminals and the police :
I think he'll sing.
give information
[intransitive] informal
I think he'll sing.sing along
phrasal verb
Sing along if you know the words.sing out
phrasal verb1 to shout or sing some words clearly and loudly :
'Freeze!' a shrill voice sang out.
sing out (something)
'Freeze!' a shrill voice sang out.2 American English to sing loudly so that people can hear you easily
sing up
phrasal verb
Sing up, boys, I can't hear you!