ring

noun

1. A circumscribing object, (roughly) circular and hollow, looking like an annual ring, earring, finger ring etc.
2. A round piece of (precious) metal worn around the finger or through the ear, nose, etc.
3. A bird band, a round piece of metal put around a bird's leg used for identification and studies of migration.
4. A burner on a kitchen stove, hob, or cooktop.
5. A piece of food in the shape of a ring.
6. In a jack plug, the connector between the tip and the sleeve.
7. The rectum, anus, or anal sphincters.
8. 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.
9. A flexible band partly or wholly encircling the spore cases of ferns.
10. A circular group of people or objects.
11. A formation of various pieces of material orbiting around a planet or young star.
12. A large circular prehistoric stone construction such as Stonehenge.
13. A long stripe of contrastive material, colour, etc, that encircles something.
14. A place where some sports or exhibitions take place; notably a circular or comparable arena, such as a boxing ring or a circus ring; hence the field of a political contest.
15. The open space in front of a racecourse stand, used for betting purposes.
16. An exclusive group of people, usually involving some unethical or illegal practices.
17. A group of atoms linked by bonds to form a closed chain in a molecule.
18. A planar geometrical figure included between two concentric circles.
19. A diacritical mark in the shape of a hollow circle placed above or under the letter; a kroužek.
20. An old English measure of corn equal to the coomb or half a quarter.