n.
Pronunciation: ' dip
Function: verb
Inflected Form: dipped ; dip · ping
Etymology: Middle English dippen, from Old English dyppan; akin to Old High German tupfen to wash, Lithuanian dubus deep
Date: before 12th century
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 \ ' di-p ə -b ə l \ adjective