I. ˈdip verb
( 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 ˈdi-pə-bəl adjective
II. noun
Date: 1599
1. : an act of dipping ; especially : a brief plunge into the water for sport or exercise
a quick dip in the pool
2. : inclination downward:
a. : pitch
b. : a sharp downward course : drop
a dip in popularity
c. : the angle that a stratum or similar geological feature makes with a horizontal plane
3. : the angle formed with the horizon by a magnetic needle free to rotate in the vertical plane
4. : hollow , depression
a dip in the road
5. : something obtained by or used in dipping
a dip of ice cream
a dip of snuff
6.
a. : a sauce or soft mixture into which food may be dipped
bean dip
b. : a liquid preparation for the dipping of something ; especially : an insecticide or parasiticide for the dipping of animals
a sheep dip
7. slang : pickpocket
III. noun
Etymology: back-formation from dippy
Date: 1932
: a stupid or unsophisticated person
IV. abbreviation
diploma