■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped )
1》 ( ~ something in/into ) put or let something down quickly or briefly in or into (liquid).
↘make (a candle) by immersing a wick repeatedly in hot wax.
2》 sink, drop, or slope downwards.
↘(of a level or amount) temporarily become lower or smaller.
↘lower or move downwards.
↘ Brit. lower the beam of (a vehicle's headlights).
3》 ( ~ into ) put a hand or implement into (a bag or container) in order to take something out.
↘spend from or make use of (one's financial resources).
4》 ( ~ out ) Austral./NZ informal fail.
■ noun
1》 an act of ~ping, especially a brief swim.
2》 a thick sauce in which pieces of food are ~ped before eating.
3》 a brief downward slope followed by an upward one.
↘an instance of dropping briefly before rising again.
4》 the angle made with the horizontal at any point by the earth's magnetic field.
↘ Geology the angle a stratum makes with the horizontal.
↘ Astronomy & Surveying the apparent depression of the horizon from the line of observation, due to the curvature of the earth.
5》 N. Amer. informal a stupid or foolish person.
Phrases
~ one's toe into (or in ) begin to do (something) cautiously.
Origin
OE dyppan , of Gmc origin; related to deep .