v. & n.
--v. (dipped, dipping)
1. tr. put or let down briefly into liquid etc.; immerse.
2 intr. a go below a surface or level (the sun dipped below the horizon). b (of a level of income, activity, etc.) decline slightly, esp. briefly (profits dipped in May).
3 intr. extend downwards; take or have a downward slope (the road dips after the bend).
4 intr. go under water and emerge quickly.
5 intr. (foll. by into) a read briefly from (a book etc.). b take a cursory interest in (a subject).
6 (foll. by into) a intr. put a hand, ladle, etc., into a container to take something out. b tr. put (a hand etc.) into a container to do this. c intr. spend from or make use of one's resources (dipped into our savings).
7 tr. & intr. lower or be lowered, esp. in salute.
8 tr. Brit. lower the beam of (a vehicle's headlights) to reduce dazzle.
9 tr. colour (a fabric) by immersing it in dye.
10 tr. wash (sheep) by immersion in a vermin-killing liquid.
11 tr. make (a candle) by immersing a wick briefly in hot tallow.
12 tr. baptize by immersion.
13 tr. (often foll. by up, out of) remove or scoop up (liquid, grain, etc., or something from liquid).
--n.
1. an act of dipping or being dipped.
2 a liquid into which something is dipped.
3 a brief bathe in the sea, river, etc.
4 a brief downward slope, followed by an upward one, in a road etc.
5 a sauce or dressing into which food is dipped before eating.
6 a depression in the skyline.
7 Astron. & Surveying the apparent depression of the horizon from the line of observation, due to the curvature of the earth.
8 Physics the angle made with the horizontal at any point by the earth's magnetic field.
9 Geol. the angle a stratum makes with the horizon.
10 sl. a pickpocket.
11 a quantity dipped up.
12 a candle made by dipping.
Phrases and idioms:
dip-switch a switch for dipping a vehicle's headlight beams.
Etymology: OE dyppan f. Gmc: rel. to DEEP