dunk /dʌŋk/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1900-2000 ; Language: Pennsylvania German ; Origin: dunke , from Middle High German dunken ]
1 . [transitive] to quickly put something into a liquid and take it out again, especially something you are eating:
Jill dunked her ginger biscuit in her tea.
I dunked my head under the water and scrubbed at my hair.
2 . [transitive] American English to push someone under water for a short time as a joke SYN duck British English
3 . [intransitive and transitive] to jump up by the basket and throw the ball down into it in ↑ basketball ⇨ dunk for apples at ↑ apple (3), ⇨ ↑ slam dunk
—dunk noun [countable]
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THESAURUS
■ to put something into a liquid
▪ dip to put something into a liquid for a very short time and take it out again:
She dipped her hand in the water to see how hot it was.
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Prawns are delicious dipped in a spicy sauce.
▪ plunge to put something quickly, firmly, and deeply into a liquid:
Plunge the pasta into a pan of boiling water.
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I had to plunge my arm in up to the elbow to reach the keys.
▪ dunk to put something such as a piece of bread or cake into a hot drink or soup before eating it:
I love biscuits dunked in coffee.
▪ immerse to put something deep into a liquid so that it is completely covered:
If the plant’s leaves look dry, immerse the roots in water for a while.