-ing /ɪŋ/ suffix
[Sense 1: Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old English; Origin: -ende]
[Sense 2: Language: Old English; Origin: -ing, -ung]

1. forms the present participle of verbs:
They’re dancing.
to go dancing
a dancing bear

2. [in uncountable nouns] the action or process of doing something:
She hates swimming.
No parking.

3. [in countable nouns]
a) an example of doing something:
to hold a meeting
b) a product or result of doing something:
a beautiful painting

4. [in nouns] something used to do something or used for making something:
a silk lining
ten metres of curtaining (=cloth for curtains)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲