tip

1 of 10

verb (1)

ˈtip 

tipped; tipping

transitive verb

1

: overturn, upset

—usually used with over

2

a

: cant entry 3, tilt

b

: to raise and tilt forward in salute

tipped his hat

intransitive verb

1

: to become tipped : topple

2

: lean, slant

tip

2 of 10

noun (1)

1

: the act or an instance of tipping : tilt

2

chiefly British : a place for depositing something (such as rubbish) by dumping

tip

3 of 10

noun (2)

1

: the usually pointed end of something

a pencil tip

2

: a small piece or part serving as an end, cap, or point

tipped

ˈtipt 

adjective

tip

4 of 10

verb (2)

tipped; tipping

transitive verb

1

a

: to furnish with a tip

b(1)

: to cover or adorn the tip of

(2)

: to blend (furs) for improved appearance by brushing the tips of the hair with dye

2

: to affix (an insert) in a book

—often used with in

3

: to remove the ends of

tip raspberries

tip

5 of 10

verb (3)

tipped; tipping

transitive verb

1

: to strike lightly : tap

2

: to give (something, such as a baseball) a glancing blow

intransitive verb

: tiptoe

tip

6 of 10

noun (3)

: a light touch or blow

tip

7 of 10

noun (4)

1

: a piece of advice or expert or authoritative information

2

: a piece of advance or confidential information given by one thought to have access to special or inside sources

tip

8 of 10

verb (4)

tipped; tipping

transitive verb

1

: to impart a piece of information or advice about or to

—often used with off

2

chiefly British : to mention as a likely candidate, prospective winner, or profitable investment : tout sense 1

tip

9 of 10

verb (5)

tipped; tipping

transitive verb

1

: to give a gratuity to

2

: give, present

this crew has tipped you the black spot

—R. L. Stevenson

intransitive verb

: to bestow a gratuity

tip

10 of 10

noun (5)

: a gift or a sum of money tendered for a service performed or anticipated : gratuity

Phrases

tip the scales

1

: to register weight

tips the scales at 285 pounds

2

: to shift the balance of power or influence

tipped the scales in favor of a declaration of war

—S. F. Bemis

on the tip of one's tongue

1

: about to be uttered

it was on the tip of my tongue to say exactly what I thought

2

: just eluding recall

tip one's hand or less commonly tip one's mitt

: to declare one's intentions or reveal one's opinions or resources

the Justice Department wouldn't tip its hand by saying what its next move … would be

—Newsweek

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• angle
• cant
• cock
• heel
• incline
• lean
• list
• pitch
• slant
• slope
• tilt

Noun (1)

• angling
• bend
• cock
• inclination
• list
• tilt

Noun (2)

• apex
• cusp
• end
• nib
• nose
• pike
• point

Noun (4)

• hint
• lead
• pointer

Noun (5)

• gratuity
• perquisite

Examples of tip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here are tips on how to stay safe during a thunderstorm: • To minimize risk of being struck by lightning, when going outside, have a plan to get to a safer place. —Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2024

After receiving a tip from the Ramapo team, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department collected DNA samples from Yager’s daughter, which allowed Bode Technology in Lorton, Va., to verify the bone fragment. —Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024

Here’s how to spot the Jupiter-Uranus hangout on the evening of April 20, plus tips for snagging the best planet view. —Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2024

Here are some other tips to keep in mind, according to pediatrician Elizabeth Murray, DO, MBA, FAAP: Ensure the crib mattress fits snugly in the crib with no gaps wider than two fingers to reduce the risk of injury. —Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 19 Apr. 2024

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Miami-Dade CrimeStoppers at 305-471-8477 or submit a tip online at crimestoppers305.com. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024

For your green thumb, find tips for saving money on houseplants and how to keep your plants alive longer. —Colleen Grablick, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024

However, some steamed or boiled vegetables are fine, including carrots, squash, zucchini, asparagus tips, and even mushrooms. —Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024

California won’t experience totality, but there’s still plenty to see. April 8, 2024 2 Here are some tips for taking photos of Monday’s upcoming solar eclipse without ruining your smartphone. —Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Verb

Gordon tipped in a Jokic miss before the halftime buzzer to get back within four, and the first two minutes after the break were exponentially more important. —Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2024

Hovering over the landscape was stately Mount Asama, its summit tipped with white. —Katie Kitamura, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2024

Super cinched waist coats that flared out into severe peplums, little lady top hats slyly tipped on the head, and itty bitty vests and bustiers. —Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024

Continuing pressure for commercial space here, combined with new popular residential locations farther out in what was now a borough of New York City, tipped the block to almost wholly commercial over the course of a few decades. —Jeremy Lechtzin, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024

Yet, there's a delicate balance to maintain; what begins as fabulous can swiftly tip into the realm of the absurd. —Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024

After a wild scramble at Tribal Council, Tevin was almost unanimously voted out, with only Andy Griffith alliance partner Hunter McKnight staying true (although Hunter did not tip him off, nor give him his immunity idol). —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2024

Tuesday’s game will tip off at 7 p.m. at Golden 1 Center and be broadcast on TNT. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 14 Apr. 2024

But Israel’s allies in the West urged the country to work to de-escalate the crisis, rather than respond in a way which could tip the situation into open warfare. —Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English

Noun (2)

Middle English; akin to Middle High German zipf tip, Old English tæppa tap — more at tap entry 3

Verb (2)

Middle English tipped having a tip, from tip entry 3

Noun (3)

Middle English tippe; akin to Low German tippen to tap

Noun (4)

origin unknown

Verb (5)

perhaps from tip entry 5

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (3)

1567, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (4)

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (5)

circa 1610, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun (5)

1755, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tip

• felt-tip
• felt-tip pen
• filter tip
• foul tip
• hot tip
• on the tip of one's tongue
• Q-tip
• rubbish tip/dump
• shift/tip/tilt the balance of power
• the tip of the iceberg
• tip-in
• tip-off
• tip of the iceberg
• tip one's cap/hat
• tip one's hand
• tip one's mitt
• tip over
• tip (someone) the wink
• tip the balance
• tip the scales
• tip the scales at
• tip-top
• tip up
• white-tip reef shark
• white-tip shark
• wing tip

Video

Some Odd Words with ISMO: "People Tipping"

Comedian ISMO on the complexities of the word 'tip'

Kids Definition

tip

1 of 10 verb

ˈtip 

tipped; tipping

1

: turn over sense 1a

tipped over a glass

2

: to bend from a straight position : slant

the bench tips on the uneven floor

3

: to raise and tilt forward

tipped his hat

tip

2 of 10 noun

: the act or an instance of tipping

a tip of the hat

tip

3 of 10 verb

tipped; tipping

1

: to attach a tip to

2

: to cover or decorate the tip of

tip

4 of 10 noun

1

: the pointed or rounded end of something

2

: a small piece or part serving as an end, cap, or point

tipped

ˈtipt 

adjective

tip

5 of 10 noun

: a light touch or blow : tap

tip

6 of 10 verb

tipped; tipping

: to hit a baseball so that it glances off the bat

tip

7 of 10 noun

: a piece of useful or secret information given

got a tip on how to prepare for the test

tip

8 of 10 verb

tipped; tipping

: to give useful or secret information to

someone must have tipped them off

tip

9 of 10 verb

tipped; tipping

: to give a tip to

tip the waiter

tip

10 of 10 noun

: a small sum of money given for a service

Etymology

Verb

Middle English tipen "to upset, overturn"

Noun

Middle English tip "a pointed end"

Noun

Middle English tippe "a light touch or blow"

Noun

origin unknown

Verb

probably derived from earlier tip (verb) "to strike lightly"

Legal Definition

tip

1 of 2 noun

1

: information provided to the police or authorities regarding crime

2

: a piece of inside information especially of advantage in securities trading

tip

2 of 2 transitive verb

tipped; tipping

: to provide a tip to or about

—often used with off

tipper noun