Main Entry: ¹sink

Pronunciation: \ˈsiŋk\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): sank \ˈsaŋk\ or sunk \ˈsəŋk\; sunk; sink·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sincan; akin to Old High German sinkan to sink

Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb 1 a : to go to the bottom : submerge b : to become partly buried (as in mud) c : to become engulfed
2 a (1) : to fall or drop to a lower place or level (2) : to flow at a lower depth or level (3) : to burn with lower intensity (4) : to fall to a lower pitch or volume <his voice sank to a whisper> b : to subside gradually : settle c : to disappear from view d : to slope gradually : dip
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 : failtransitive 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
2 : immerse, absorb <he sank himself into his studies>
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>
4 : to cast down or bring to a low condition or state : overwhelm, defeat
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
7 : restrain, suppress <sinks her pride and approaches the despised neighbor — Richard Harrison>
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>