First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1sink
verb \ˈsiŋk\
: to go down below the surface of water, mud, etc.
: to cause (a ship or boat) to go down below the surface of water
: to move down to a lower position
sank \ˈsaŋk\ or sunk \ˈsəŋk\ sunksink·ing
Full Definition of SINK
intransitive verb
1
2
3
a : to soak or become absorbed : penetrate b : to become impressively known or felt <the lesson had sunk in>
4
: to become deeply absorbed <sank into reverie>
5
a : to go downward in quality, state, or condition b : to grow less in amount or worth
6
a : to fall or drop slowly for lack of strength b : to become depressed c : to fail in health or strength; broadly : fail
transitive verb
1
a : to cause to sink <sink a battleship> b : to force down especially below the earth's surface c : to cause (something) to penetrate
3
a : to dig or bore (a well or shaft) in the earth : excavate b : to form by cutting or excising <sink words in stone>
5
: to lower in standing or reputation : abase
6
a : to lessen in value or amount b : to lower or soften (the voice) in speaking
8
: to pay off (as a debt) : liquidate
9
: invest 1
10
: drop 7c <sink a putt> <sink a jump shot>
11
chiefly British : to drink down completely
— sink·able \ˈsiŋ-kə-bəl\ adjective
— sink one's teeth into
1
: to bite into
2
: to eagerly devote one's attention to <likes to sink her teeth into a good book>
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Origin of SINK
Middle English, from Old English sincan; akin to Old High German sinkan to sink
Related to SINK
- Synonyms
- atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, deteriorate, worsen
- Antonyms
- ameliorate, improve, meliorate
2sink
noun
: a wide bowl that has a faucet for water and a drain at the bottom and is usually positioned in a counter or on a pedestal
Full Definition of SINK
1
2
: a place where vice, corruption, or evil collects
3
: sump 3
4
a : a depression in the land surface; especially : one having a saline lake with no outlet b : sinkhole
5
: a body or process that acts as a storage device or disposal mechanism: as a : heat sink; broadly : a device that collects or dissipates energy (as radiation) b : a reactant with or absorber of a substance <forests are a sink for carbon dioxide>
See sink defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SINK
15th century
Related to SINK
- Synonyms
- cesspool, Gomorrah, Augean stable
Other Civil Engineering Terms
SINK[1] Defined for Kids
1sink
verb \ˈsiŋk\
sank \ˈsaŋk\ or sunk \ˈsəŋk\sunksink·ing
Definition of SINK for Kids
1
: to move or cause to move downward so as to be swallowed up <The ship sank.>
2
: to fall or drop to a lower level <They both sank gratefully to the floor. — Jane Yolen, The Devil's Arithmetic>
3
: to penetrate or cause to penetrate <He sank an ax into the tree.>
4
: to go into or become absorbed <Water sank into the ground.>
5
: to become known or felt <She had to let the news sink in.>
6
: to lessen in amount <The temperature sank.>
7
: to form by digging or boring <We'll sink a well for water.>
8
: to spend (money) unwisely
9
: to descend into a feeling of sadness or dread <When I realized I had not won, my heart sank.>
2sink
noun
Definition of SINK for Kids
: a wide bowl or basin attached to a wall or floor and having water faucets and a drain
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