sing

S2 W1

BrE /sɪŋ/ AmE /sɪŋ/

verb en → es

past sang pp sung ing singing

1 PERFORM MUSIC [intransitive] A2

to make musical sounds with your voice, especially as part of a song or piece of music

cantar

  • sing a song
  • sing in a choir

Collocations sing a love song · sing in the shower

  • She sings beautifully.

    Canta hermosamente.

2 REPEAT TEXT [transitive] B1

to say words aloud in a musical way, as if you are singing them

entonar, recitar con entonación musical

  • sing something to somebody

Collocations sing a lullaby to the baby · sing a poem to the class

  • He sang a song to his girlfriend.

    Le cantó una canción a su novia.

3 STATE [transitive] B2

to say something in an important or formal way, as if you are singing it

proclamar, declarar con énfasis

  • sing something out

Collocations sing your praises to the boss · sing a warning to the crowd

  • The mayor sang his achievements at the press conference.

    El alcalde proclamó sus logros en la conferencia de prensa.

4 METAPHOR [intransitive] C1

to be a sign or symbol of something, especially when this is not said directly

representar simbólicamente

  • sing for something

Collocations the red rose sings for love · the stars sing for the night sky

  • The dove sings for peace.

    La paloma representa simbólicamente la paz.

Phrasal verbs

sing along JOIN IN SINGING B1

cantar junto con alguien

  • She sang along to the radio.

    Ella cantó junto con la canción de la radio.

sing out SING LOUDLY B2

cantar fuerte

  • Sing out if you need help.

    Canten fuerte si necesitan ayuda.

sing up JOIN SINGING GROUP B2

unirse a un coro o grupo de canto

  • He sang up for the choir.

    Se unió al coro.

sing away CONTINUE SINGING B2

seguir cantando

  • She sang away until the early hours of the morning.

    Ella siguió cantando hasta las primeras horas de la mañana.

sing off STOP SINGING B2

dejar de cantar

  • They sang off at midnight.

    Dejaron de cantar a medianoche.

Idioms

sing like a canary B2

cantar como un canario (delatar)

  • He sang like a canary to the police.

    Delató todo a la policía.

sing for your supper B2

ganar tu comida con tus habilidades

  • She sang for her supper by performing at the club.

    Ella ganó su comida cantando en el club.

sing from the same hymn sheet C1

estar de acuerdo, coincidir

  • The two teams are singing from the same hymn sheet.

    Los dos equipos están de acuerdo.