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
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 (something, such as a debt) : liquidate
10
: drop sense 7c
sink a putt
sink a jump shot
11
chiefly British
: to drink down completely
plural sinks
1
2
: a place where vice, corruption, or evil collects
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: such as
a
: heat sink
broadly
: a device that collects or dissipates energy (such as radiation)
b
: a reactant with or absorber of a substance
The oceans are a major sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).—Andrew J. Watson et al.
see also carbon sink
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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