zing

[zing] /zɪŋ/
noun
1.
vitality, animation, or zest.
2.
a quality or characteristic that excites the interest, enthusiasm, etc.:
a tourist town with lots of zing.
3.
a sharp singing or whining noise, as of a bullet passing through the air.
verb (used without object)
4.
to move or proceed with a sharp singing or whining noise:
The cars zinged down the highway.
5.
to move or proceed with speed or vitality; zip.
verb (used with object)
6.
to cause to move with or as with a sharp, singing or whining noise:
The pitcher zinged a slider right over the plate.
7.
Slang. to blame or criticize severely:
City Hall always gets zinged when crime increases.
Origin
1910-15; imitative
Examples from the web for zing
  • To give the contests extra zing, the winners will take the lot.
  • The occasion lacked zing for outsiders, but that was perhaps the whole point.
  • The zing of fresh lemon enhances both the peas' sweetness and the natural flavor of the spinach.
  • Then it can zing the information off to anything that's connectable, smoothly fitting the stuff into its natural habitat.
  • While the tokens lack the zing of actual figures, they provide a critical resource for gamers who might not have a lot of figures.
  • The things that give it zing may also ward off disease.
British Dictionary definitions for zing

zing

/zɪŋ/
noun (informal)
1.
a short high-pitched buzzing sound, as of a bullet or vibrating string
2.
vitality; zest
verb
3.
(intransitive) to make or move with or as if with a high-pitched buzzing sound
Word Origin
C20: of imitative origin
Word Origin and History for zing
n.

1911, "high pitched sound," 1918, of echoic origin. Slang meaning "energy, zest" is attested from 1918.

Slang definitions & phrases for zing

zing

noun

Energetic vitality; power; vigor; oomph, pep, pizzazz, zip: Rock adds zing/ with plenty of zing in both the V-8 engine and the powerful Six (1918+)

verb
  1. (also zing along) To move rapidly and strongly; zip: The movie zings right along (1961+)
  2. To throw; inject, esp rapidly and strongly: like the Beatles every once in a while can zing it in there (1960s+)
  3. To insult; assault verbally, esp with bitter humor: King Caen, who zings everyone, gets a taste of his own medicine/ A woman on the editorial board merrily zinged the winking minister (1974+)

[probably echoic of the whishing sound of rapid movement, like zip and zoom]