Ring vs. Rink — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on December 22, 2023
A "ring" can refer to a circular band worn on the finger or a circular area for sports like boxing, whereas a "rink" is specifically an area for ice skating or roller skating, typically enclosed and often used for sports like ice hockey.
Difference Between Ring and Rink
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A ring is commonly known as a small circular band, often made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry on the finger. In contrast, a rink is a large, flat surface area designed for ice skating or roller skating, enclosed by barriers for safety.
In sports, a ring refers to the enclosed, often circular, area where boxing and wrestling matches take place, marked by ropes and posts. Meanwhile, a rink is the designated area for ice sports like hockey and figure skating, characterized by its ice-covered surface.
The term ring is also used metaphorically to describe a group or network, as in a 'spy ring'. A rink, however, does not commonly have metaphorical uses and is specifically associated with skating activities.
Rings come in various forms and materials, including gold, silver, and diamond rings, symbolizing different things like marriage, engagement, or fashion. On the other hand, a rink is a physical space, usually made of ice or a smooth, hard surface for roller skating, and does not carry symbolic meanings.
In cultural contexts, rings often hold significant sentimental or symbolic value, as seen in wedding ceremonies. In contrast, rinks are seen as recreational or sporting venues, places for physical activity, competitions, or entertainment.
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Comparison Chart
Basic Definition
Circular band for fingers; sports area
Area for ice or roller skating
Materials/Composition
Metal, gemstones
Ice, or smooth hard surface
Use in Sports
Boxing, wrestling
Ice hockey, figure skating
Symbolic Significance
Marriage, engagement, fashion
None, purely functional
Cultural Context
Sentimental value, ornamental
Recreational, sporting events
Compare with Definitions
Ring
A small circular band, typically of precious metal and often set with one or more gemstones, worn on a finger as an ornament or a token of marriage, engagement, or authority
He had a silver ring on one finger
A bishop's ring
A diamond ring
Rink
A rink is a specially prepared surface of ice for ice skating or playing ice hockey.
The ice hockey team practiced daily on the local rink.
Ring
A ring-shaped or circular object
An inflatable rubber ring
Fried onion rings
Rink
Rink also refers to a designated area for roller skating.
They went to the roller rink for her birthday party.
Ring
A ring is a small circular band, typically made of metal, worn as jewelry on the finger.
She admired the sparkling diamond ring on her finger.
Rink
In sports like curling, the rink is the playing area.
The curling team swept the ice vigorously on the rink.
Ring
Ring can also refer to a sound that is typically clear and resonant.
The bell rang with a loud, clear ring.
Rink
A rink can also be a building containing an ice or roller skating area.
The new skating rink in town hosts both ice skating and hockey games.
Ring
A ring can be a group or network involved in an activity, often secretive or illegal.
The police broke up an international smuggling ring.
Rink
Rinks are often used for public skating sessions and skating lessons.
On weekends, the rink is crowded with families enjoying public skating.
Ring
In geometry, a ring is a circular shape or design.
The artist drew a perfect ring on the canvas.
Rink
An enclosed area of ice for skating, ice hockey, or curling
The girls were planning to go ice skating at the rink in George Square
Ring
An enclosed space, surrounded by seating for spectators, in which a sport, performance, or show takes place
A circus ring
Rink
A team in curling or bowls
He helped his rink to win by 35 shots to 4
Ring
A group of people engaged in a shared enterprise, especially one involving illegal or unscrupulous activity
The police had been investigating the drug ring
Rink
A usually rectangular area surfaced with smooth ice and often having a vertical boards erected around the perimeter and curving along each corner, used for skating, ice hockey, or curling.
Ring
A number of atoms bonded together to form a closed loop in a molecule
A benzene ring
Rink
A similar area having a smooth hard floor used for roller-skating.
Ring
A set of elements with two binary operations, addition and multiplication, the second being distributive over the first and associative.
Rink
A similar area, often having artificial grass, used for indoor soccer and other sports.
Ring
An act of ringing a bell, or the resonant sound caused by this
There was a ring at the door
Rink
A building housing one or more of these areas.
Ring
A particular quality conveyed by something heard or expressed
The song had a curious ring of nostalgia to it
Rink
A section of a bowling green large enough for holding a match.
Ring
Surround (someone or something), especially for protection or containment
The courthouse was ringed with police
Rink
A team of players in quoits, bowling, or curling.
Ring
Put an aluminium strip round the leg of (a bird) for subsequent identification
Only a small proportion of warblers are caught and ringed
Rink
A man, especially a warrior or hero.
Ring
Fraudulently change the identity of (a motor vehicle), typically by changing its registration plate
There may be an organization which has ringed the stolen car to be resold
Rink
A ring; a circle.
Ring
Short for ringbark
Rink
A sheet of ice prepared for playing certain sports, such as hockey or curling.
We played hockey all winter until the rink melted.
Ring
Make a clear resonant or vibrating sound
A shot rang out
A bell rang loudly
Rink
A surface for roller skating.
Ring
Call by telephone
Harriet rang Dorothy up next day
She rang to tell him the good news
I rang her this morning
Rink
A building housing an ice rink.
Ring
(of a place) resound or reverberate with (a sound or sounds)
The room rang with laughter
Rink
(curling) A team in a competition.
The Schmirler rink won the Silver Broom.
Ring
A circular object, form, line, or arrangement.
Rink
The smooth and level extent of ice marked off for the game of curling.
Ring
A small circular band, generally made of precious metal and often set with jewels, worn on the finger.
Rink
An artificial sheet of ice, generally under cover, used for skating; also, a floor prepared for skating on with roller skates, or a building with such a floor.
Ring
A circular band used for carrying, holding, or containing something
A napkin ring.
Rink
Building that contains a surface for ice skating or roller skating
Ring
Rings(Sports) A pair of circular metal bands suspended in the air for gymnastic exercises, on which balancing and swinging maneuvers are performed while holding the bands as motionless as possible.
Ring
A circular movement or course, as in dancing.
Ring
An enclosed, usually circular area in which exhibitions, sports, or contests take place
A circus ring.
Ring
A rectangular arena set off by stakes and ropes in which boxing or wrestling events are held.
Ring
The sport of boxing.
Ring
An enclosed area in which bets are placed at a racetrack.
Ring
Bookmakers considered as a group.
Ring
An exclusive group of people acting privately or illegally to advance their own interests
A drug ring.
Ring
A political contest; a race.
Ring
(Botany) An annual ring.
Ring
(Mathematics) The area between two concentric circles; annulus.
Ring
(Mathematics) A set of elements subject to the operations of addition and multiplication, in which the set is a commutative group under addition and associative under multiplication and in which the two operations are related by distributive laws.
Ring
Any of the turns constituting a spiral or helix.
Ring
(Chemistry) A group of atoms linked by bonds that may be represented graphically in polygonal form. Also called closed chain.
Ring
The sound created by a bell or another sonorous vibrating object.
Ring
A loud sound, especially one that is repeated or continued.
Ring
A telephone call
Give me a ring when you have time.
Ring
A suggestion of a particular quality
His offer has a suspicious ring.
Ring
A set of bells.
Ring
The act or an instance of sounding a bell.
Ring
To surround with or as if with a ring; encircle
Guests ringed the coffee table.
Ring
To form into a ring or rings.
Ring
To ornament or supply with a ring or rings
Ringed the door knocker with a wreath of holly.
Ring
To remove a circular strip of bark around the circumference of (a tree trunk or branch); girdle.
Ring
To put a ring in the nose of (an animal).
Ring
To hem in (animals) by riding in a circle around them.
Ring
(Games) To toss a ring over (a peg), as in horseshoes.
Ring
To form a ring or rings.
Ring
To move, run, or fly in a spiral or circular course.
Ring
To give forth a clear resonant sound.
Ring
To cause something to ring.
Ring
To sound a bell in order to summon someone
I'll ring for the maid.
Ring
To have a sound or character suggestive of a particular quality
A story that rings true.
Ring
To be filled with sound; resound
The room rang with the children's laughter.
Ring
To hear a persistent humming or buzzing
My ears were ringing from the sound of the blast.
Ring
To be filled with talk or rumor
The whole town rang with the bad news.
Ring
To cause (a bell, for example) to ring.
Ring
To produce (a sound) by or as if by ringing.
Ring
To announce, proclaim, or signal by or as if by ringing
A clock that rings the hour.
Ring
Chiefly British To call (someone) on the telephone. Often used with up
She rang me at noon. Let's ring her up and invite her.
Ring
To test (a coin, for example) for quality by the sound it produces when struck against something.
Ring
(physical) A solid object in the shape of a circle.
Ring
A circumscribing object, (roughly) circular and hollow, looking like an annual ring, earring, finger ring etc.
Ring
A round piece of (precious) metal worn around the finger or through the ear, nose, etc.
Ring
(British) A bird band, a round piece of metal put around a bird's leg used for identification and studies of migration.
Ring
(UK) A burner on a kitchen stove.
Ring
In a jack plug, the connector between the tip and the sleeve.
Ring
(historical) 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.
Ring
(botany) A flexible band partly or wholly encircling the spore cases of ferns.
Ring
(physical) A group of objects arranged in a circle.
Ring
A circular group of people or objects.
A ring of mushrooms growing in the wood
Ring
(astronomy) A formation of various pieces of material orbiting around a planet or young star.
Ring
(British) A large circular prehistoric stone construction such as Stonehenge.
Ring
A piece of food in the shape of a ring.
Onion rings
Ring
(internet) webring
Ring
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.
Ring
The open space in front of a racecourse stand, used for betting purposes.
Ring
An exclusive group of people, usually involving some unethical or illegal practices. Category:en:Corruption
A crime ring; a prostitution ring; a bidding ring (at an auction sale)
Ring
(chemistry) A group of atoms linked by bonds to form a closed chain in a molecule.
A benzene ring
Ring
(geometry) A planar geometrical figure included between two concentric circles.
Ring
(typography) A diacritical mark in the shape of a hollow circle placed above or under the letter; a kroužek.
Ring
(historical) An old English measure of corn equal to the coomb or half a quarter.
Ring
(computing theory) A hierarchical level of privilege in a computer system, usually at hardware level, used to protect data and functionality (also protection ring).
Ring
(firearms) Either of the pair of clamps used to hold a telescopic sight to a rifle.
Ring
(cartomancy) The twenty-fifth Lenormand card.
Ring
The resonant sound of a bell, or a sound resembling it.
The church bell's ring could be heard the length of the valley.
The ring of hammer on anvil filled the air.
Ring
(figuratively) A pleasant or correct sound.
The name has a nice ring to it.
Ring
(figuratively) A sound or appearance that is characteristic of something.
Her statements in court had a ring of falsehood.
Ring
(colloquial) A telephone call.
I’ll give you a ring when the plane lands.
Ring
Any loud sound; the sound of numerous voices; a sound continued, repeated, or reverberated.
Ring
A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned.
St Mary's has a ring of eight bells.
Ring
(algebra) An algebraic structure which consists of a set with two binary operations: an additive operation and a multiplicative operation, such that the set is an abelian group under the additive operation, a monoid under the multiplicative operation, and such that the multiplicative operation is distributive with respect to the additive operation.
The set of integers, , is the prototypical ring.
Ring
(algebra) An algebraic structure as above, but only required to be a semigroup under the multiplicative operation, that is, there need not be a multiplicative identity element.
The definition of ring without unity allows, for instance, the set of even integers to be a ring.
Ring
A family of sets that is closed under finite unions and differences.{{cite-book
Ring
(transitive) To enclose or surround.
The inner city was ringed with dingy industrial areas.
Ring
To make an incision around; to girdle; to cut away a circular tract of bark from a tree in order to kill it.
They ringed the trees to make the clearing easier next year.
Ring
(transitive) To attach a ring to, especially for identification.
We managed to ring 22 birds this morning.
Ring
(transitive) To surround or fit with a ring, or as if with a ring.
To ring a pig’s snout
Ring
(falconry) To rise in the air spirally.
Ring
(transitive) To steal and change the identity of (cars) in order to resell them.
Ring
To ride around (a group of animals, especially catle) to keep them milling in one place; hence intransitive, to work as a drover, to muster cattle.
Ring
(intransitive) Of a bell, etc., to produce a resonant sound.
The bells were ringing in the town.
Ring
(transitive) To make (a bell, etc.) produce a resonant sound.
The deliveryman rang the doorbell to drop off a parcel.
Ring
(transitive) To produce (a sound) by ringing.
They rang a Christmas carol on their handbells.
Ring
To produce the sound of a bell or a similar sound.
Whose mobile phone is ringing?
Ring
Of something spoken or written, to appear to be, to seem, to sound.
That does not ring true.
Ring
To telephone (someone).
I will ring you when we arrive.
Ring
(intransitive) to resound, reverberate, echo.
Ring
(intransitive) To produce music with bells.
Ring
(dated) To repeat often, loudly, or earnestly.
Ring
To cause to sound, especially by striking, as a metallic body; as, to ring a bell.
Ring
To make (a sound), as by ringing a bell; to sound.
The shard-borne beetle, with his drowsy hums,Hath rung night's yawning peal.
Ring
To repeat often, loudly, or earnestly.
Ring
To sound, as a bell or other sonorous body, particularly a metallic one.
Now ringen trompes loud and clarion.
Why ring not out the bells?
Ring
To practice making music with bells.
Ring
To sound loud; to resound; to be filled with a ringing or reverberating sound.
With sweeter notes each rising temple rung.
The hall with harp and carol rang.
My ears still ring with noise.
Ring
To continue to sound or vibrate; to resound.
The assertion is still ringing in our ears.
Ring
To be filled with report or talk; as, the whole town rings with his fame.
Ring
To surround with a ring, or as with a ring; to encircle.
Ring
To make a ring around by cutting away the bark; to girdle; as, to ring branches or roots.
Ring
To fit with a ring or with rings, as the fingers, or a swine's snout.
Ring
To rise in the air spirally.
Ring
A sound; especially, the sound of vibrating metals; as, the ring of a bell.
Ring
Any loud sound; the sound of numerous voices; a sound continued, repeated, or reverberated.
The ring of acclamations fresh in his ears.
Ring
A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned.
As great and tunable a ring of bells as any in the world.
Ring
A circle, or a circular line, or anything in the form of a circular line or hoop.
Ring
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.
Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring.
The dearest ring in Venice will I give you.
Ring
A circular area in which races are or run or other sports are performed; an arena.
Place me, O, place me in the dusty ring,Where youthful charioteers contend for glory.
Ring
An inclosed space in which pugilists fight; hence, figuratively, prize fighting.
Ring
A circular group of persons.
And hears the Muses in a ringAye round about Jove's alter sing.
Ring
The plane figure included between the circumferences of two concentric circles.
Ring
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.
Ring
An elastic band partly or wholly encircling the spore cases of ferns. See Illust. of Sporangium.
Ring
A clique; an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish purpose, as to control the market, distribute offices, obtain contracts, etc.
The ruling ring at Constantinople.
Ring
A characteristic sound;
It has the ring of sincerity
Ring
A toroidal shape;
A ring of ships in the harbor
A halo of smoke
Ring
A rigid circular band of metal or wood or other material used for holding or fastening or hanging or pulling;
There was still a rusty iron hoop for tying a horse
Ring
(chemistry) a chain of atoms in a molecule that forms a closed loop
Ring
An association of criminals;
Police tried to break up the gang
A pack of thieves
Ring
The sound of a bell ringing;
The distinctive ring of the church bell
The ringing of the telephone
The tintinnabulation that so volumnously swells from the ringing and the dinging of the bells
Ring
A square platform marked off by ropes in which contestants box or wrestle
Ring
Jewelry consisting of a circlet of precious metal (often set with jewels) worn on the finger;
She had rings on every finger
He noted that she wore a wedding band
Ring
A strip of material attached to the leg of a bird to identify it (as in studies of bird migration)
Ring
Sound loudly and sonorously;
The bells rang
Ring
Ring or echo with sound;
The hall resounded with laughter
Ring
Make (bells) ring, often for the purposes of musical edification;
Ring the bells
My uncle rings every Sunday at the local church
Ring
Be around;
Developments surround the town
The river encircles the village
Ring
Get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone;
I tried to call you all night
Take two aspirin and call me in the morning
Ring
Attach a ring to the foot of, in order to identify;
Ring birds
Band the geese to observe their migratory patterns
Ring
In sports, a ring is a designated area for boxing or wrestling, surrounded by ropes.
The two boxers faced off in the center of the ring.
Common Curiosities
Can rings be made of materials other than metal?
Yes, rings can also be made of plastics, ceramics, or other materials.
Are rinks used for competitions?
Yes, rinks host sports competitions like ice hockey and figure skating.
Do rings always symbolize marriage or engagement?
Not always, rings can also be worn for fashion or other symbolic reasons.
Is a rink always made of ice?
No, rinks can be for ice skating or roller skating.
Are there different types of rings for different sports?
Yes, boxing rings and wrestling rings have specific designs.
Are rinks open year-round?
Indoor rinks often are, but outdoor ice rinks are usually seasonal.
Can rings be purely decorative?
Yes, many rings are worn as decorative jewelry.
Can rings have religious significance?
Yes, some rings are worn as symbols of religious faith or commitment.
How big is a typical ice rink?
A standard ice hockey rink is about 200 feet long and 85 feet wide.
Are there rules for wearing rings in sports?
Yes, some sports require removing rings for safety reasons.
Can anyone skate at a public rink?
Generally, yes, though some rinks may have skill-level requirements or age restrictions.
What is a ring ceremony?
A ring ceremony often refers to the exchange of rings during a wedding.
What does "throwing one's hat in the ring" mean?
It's an idiom meaning to show willingness to enter a competition or challenge.
Can rinks be rented for private events?
Many rinks offer rentals for private parties or events.
Do rinks require maintenance?
Yes, especially ice rinks, which need regular resurfacing and temperature control.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
