SINK

I. verb (sank or sunk; sunk; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sincan; akin to Old High German ~an to ~ Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. to go to the bottom ; submerge , to become partly buried (as in mud), to become engulfed, 2. a. to fall or drop to a lower place or level, to flow at a lower depth or level, to burn with lower intensity, to fall to a lower pitch or volume , to subside gradually ; settle , to disappear from view, to slope gradually ; dip , 3. to soak or become absorbed ; penetrate , to become impressively known or felt , to become deeply absorbed , 5. to go downward in quality, state, or condition, to grow less in amount or worth, 6. to fall or drop slowly for lack of strength, to become depressed, to fail in health or strength, transitive verb 1. to cause to ~ , to force down especially below the earth's surface, to cause (something) to penetrate, immerse , absorb , 3. to dig or bore (a well or shaft) in the earth ; excavate , to form by cutting or excising , to cast down or bring to a low condition or state ; overwhelm , defeat , to lower in standing or reputation ; abase , 6. to lessen in value or amount, to lower or soften (the voice) in speaking, restrain , suppress , to pay off (as a debt) ; liquidate , invest 1, drop 7c , to drink down completely, ~able adjective II. noun Date: 15th century 1. a pool or pit for the deposit of waste or sewage ; cesspool , a ditch or tunnel for carrying off sewage ; sewer , a stationary basin connected with a drain and usually a water supply for washing and drainage, a place where vice, corruption, or evil collects, sump 3, 4. a depression in the land surface, ~hole , a body or process that acts as a storage device or disposal mechanism: as, heat ~ , a reactant with or absorber of a substance