I. ˈsiŋk verb
( sank ˈsaŋk ; or sunk ˈsəŋk ; sunk ; sink·ing )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sincan; akin to Old High German sinkan to sink
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to go to the bottom : submerge
b. : to become partly buried (as in mud)
c. : to become engulfed
2.
a.
(1) : to fall or drop to a lower place or level
(2) : to flow at a lower depth or level
(3) : to burn with lower intensity
(4) : to fall to a lower pitch or volume
his voice sank to a whisper
b. : to subside gradually : settle
c. : to disappear from view
d. : to slope gradually : dip
3.
a. : to soak or become absorbed : penetrate
b. : to become impressively known or felt
the lesson had sunk in
4. : to become deeply absorbed
sank into reverie
5.
a. : to go downward in quality, state, or condition
b. : to grow less in amount or worth
6.
a. : to fall or drop slowly for lack of strength
b. : to become depressed
c. : to fail in health or strength ; broadly : fail
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause to sink
sink a battleship
b. : to force down especially below the earth's surface
c. : to cause (something) to penetrate
2. : immerse , absorb
he sank himself into his studies
3.
a. : to dig or bore (a well or shaft) in the earth : excavate
b. : to form by cutting or excising
sink words in stone
4. : to cast down or bring to a low condition or state : overwhelm , defeat
5. : to lower in standing or reputation : abase
6.
a. : to lessen in value or amount
b. : to lower or soften (the voice) in speaking
7. : restrain , suppress
sink s her pride and approaches the despised neighbor — Richard Harrison
8. : to pay off (as a debt) : liquidate
9. : invest 1
10. : drop 7c
sink a putt
sink a jump shot
11. chiefly British : to drink down completely
• sink·able ˈsiŋ-kə-bəl adjective
•
- sink one's teeth into
II. noun
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : a pool or pit for the deposit of waste or sewage : cesspool
b. : a ditch or tunnel for carrying off sewage : sewer
c. : a stationary basin connected with a drain and usually a water supply for washing and drainage
2. : a place where vice, corruption, or evil collects
3. : sump 3
4.
a. : a depression in the land surface ; especially : one having a saline lake with no outlet
b. : sinkhole
5. : a body or process that acts as a storage device or disposal mechanism: as
a. : heat sink ; broadly : a device that collects or dissipates energy (as radiation)
b. : a reactant with or absorber of a substance
forests are a sink for carbon dioxide