dip

¹dip

verb \ˈdip\

dippeddip·ping

Definition of DIP

transitive verb

1

a : to plunge or immerse momentarily or partially under the surface (as of a liquid) so as to moisten, cool, or coat <dip candles> b : to thrust in a way to suggest immersion c : to immerse (as a sheep or dog) in an antiseptic or parasiticidal solution

2

a : to lift a portion of by reaching below the surface with something shaped to hold liquid : ladle b : to take a portion of (snuff)

3

a archaic : involve b : mortgage

4

a : to lower and then raise again <dip a flag in salute> b chiefly British : dim 2

intransitive verb

1

a : to plunge into a liquid and quickly emerge b : to immerse something into a processing liquid or finishing material

2

a : to suddenly drop down or out of sight b of an airplane : to drop suddenly before climbing c : to decline or decrease moderately and usually temporarily <prices dipped> d : to lower the body momentarily especially as part of an athletic or dancing motion

3

a : to withdraw a part of the contents of something by or as if by reaching down inside it —used with into <dipped into his pocket for change> <dipped into the family's savings>

4

: to examine or read something casually or superficially —used with into <dip into a book>

5

: to incline downward from the plane of the horizon

— dip·pa·ble \ˈdi-pə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of DIP

1. Use a ladle to dip some water out of the pot.
2. dipping water from a well
3. The sun dipped below the horizon.
4. The road dips over the hill.
5. I saw his head dip below the surface of the water.

Origin of DIP

Middle English dippen, from Old English dyppan; akin to Old High German tupfen to wash, Lithuanian dubus deep

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to DIP

Synonyms: douse (also dowse), duck, dunk, immerse, souse, sop, submerge, submerse

Antonyms: arise, ascend, lift, mount, rise, soar, spike, up

Related Words: bathe, moisten, soak, steep, wet; drench, drown, flood; dive, plunge, thrust

Near Antonyms: pour; fill

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with DIP

blip, chip, clip, drip, flip, grip, grippe, gyp, hip, kip, lip, nip, pip, quip, rip, scrip, ship, sip, skip, slip, snip, strip, tip, trip, whip, yip, zip