Meaning & use
bull ring
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
a circular arena where bullfights take place
Grammar: Countable: a bull ring, the bull ring, several bull rings.
Patterns
- in the bull ring
- at the bull ring
The bull ring was packed with spectators.
They visited the historic bull ring in Seville.
The matador entered the bull ring to loud applause.
nounsingular
the sport or activity of bullfighting
Grammar: Used with 'the' and a singular verb: The bull ring is popular in Spain. Not used with 'a'.
Patterns
- the bull ring
He wrote a book about the bull ring in Spain.
The bull ring has a long tradition in that region.
Word forms
| plural | bull rings |
|---|
Common combinations
- enter the bull ring
- The young matador entered the bull ring for the first time.
- the bull ring in Madrid
- The bull ring in Madrid is one of the most famous.
- a bull ring arena
- The bull ring arena can hold thousands of people.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bullring
- This is the same word written as one word; it is especially common in British English for the Birmingham venue.
- arena
- Arena is a general word for any sports or entertainment venue; bull ring is specifically for bullfighting.
Commonly confused: bull ring or ring?
bull ring vs ring
Ring alone can mean a piece of jewelry, a sound, or a circle; bull ring is a specific compound meaning an arena for bullfighting.
Practice
What is a bull ring?
Choose one answer.
A bull ring is an arena where bullfights happen. The other options are literal but incorrect interpretations of the compound.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bull ring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.