/ tɪp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
END OF STH
1.
the thin pointed end of sth :
the tips of your fingers
the tip of your nose
the northern tip of the island
—see also fingertip
2.
a small part that fits on or over the end of sth :
a walking stick with a rubber tip
—see also felt-tip pen , filter tip
ADVICE
3.
tip (on / for sth) | tip (on / for doing sth) a small piece of advice about sth practical
SYN hint :
handy tips for buying a computer
useful tips on how to save money
4.
( informal ) a secret or expert piece of advice about what the result of a competition, etc. is likely to be, especially about which horse is likely to win a race :
a hot tip for the big race
EXTRA MONEY
5.
a small amount of extra money that you give to sb, for example sb who serves you in a restaurant :
to leave a tip
He gave the waiter a generous tip .
FOR RUBBISH
6.
( BrE ) a place where you can take rubbish / garbage and leave it
UNTIDY PLACE
7.
( BrE , informal , disapproving ) an untidy place
SYN dump :
Their flat is a tip!
•
IDIOMS
- on the tip of your tongue
- the tip of the iceberg
■ verb
( -pp- )
LEAN / POUR / PUSH AT AN ANGLE
1.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to move so that one end or side is higher than the other; to move sth into this position
SYN tilt :
[ v ]
The boat tipped to one side.
The seat tips forward to allow passengers into the back.
[ vn ]
She tipped her head back and laughed loudly.
2.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to make sth/sb come out of a container or its/their position by holding or lifting it/them at an angle :
She tipped the dirty water down the drain.
The bus stopped abruptly, nearly tipping me out of my seat.
3.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to touch sth lightly so that it moves in a particular direction :
The goalkeeper just managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.
LEAVE RUBBISH
4.
( BrE ) to leave rubbish / garbage somewhere outdoors in order to get rid of it :
[ v ]
'No tipping.' (= for example, on a notice)
[also vn ]
GIVE EXTRA MONEY
5.
to give sb an extra amount of money to thank them for sth they have done for you as part of their job :
[ v ]
Americans were always welcome because they tended to tip heavily.
[ vn ]
Did you remember to tip the waiter?
[ vnn ]
She tipped the porter a dollar.
PREDICT SUCCESS
6.
tip sb/sth (as / for sth) to say in advance that sb/sth will be successful :
[ vn ]
The band is being tipped for the top.
The senator has been tipped by many as a future president.
[ vn to inf ]
The actor is tipped to win an Oscar for his performance.
COVER END
7.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] tip sth (with sth) to cover the end or edge of sth with a colour, a substance, etc. :
The wings are tipped with yellow.
•
IDIOMS
- it is / was tipping (it) down
- tip the balance / scales
- tip your hand
- tip the scales at sth
- tip sb the wink | tip the wink to sb
—more at hat noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- tip sb off (about sth)
- tip up / over | tip sth up / over
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 2 and verb sense 7 late Middle English : from Old Norse typpi (noun), typpa (verb), typptr tipped; related to the noun top .
noun senses 3 to 5 and verb senses 1 to 4 late Middle English : perhaps of Scandinavian origin, influenced later by tip in the sense touch with a tip or point . Current senses of the noun date from the mid 19th cent.
noun senses 6 to 7 and verb senses 5 to 6 early 17th cent. (in the sense give, hand, pass ): probably from tip thin pointed end of something .