Search results for 'sink':

sink verb (past tense sank or sunk, past participle sunk, present participle sinking) 1 tr & intr to fall or cause to fall and remain below the surface of water, either partially or completely. 2 intrans to collapse downwardly or inwardly; to fall because of a collapsing base or foundation; to subside. 3 intrans to be or become inwardly withdrawn or dejected • My heart sank at the news. 4 to embed • They sank the pole into the ground. 5 to pass steadily (and often dangerously) into a worse level or state • He sank into depression after her death. 6 to slope away or dip. 7 to diminish or decline • My opinion of him sank after that incident. 8 to invest (money) heavily • We sank a lot of money into this project. 9 to pay (a debt). 10 colloq to ruin the plans of someone; to ruin (plans) • We are sunk. 11 colloq to drink (especially alcohol) usually quickly • We sank four beers within the hour. 12 intrans said of the Sun or Moon: to disappear slowly below the horizon. 13 colloq to send (a ball) into a pocket in snooker, billiards, etc and into the hole in golf. 14 to excavate (a well, shaft, etc). 15 to let in or insert • screws sunk into the wall. 16 to abandon or abolish • I'll sink the whole organization if I have to. 17 to damn or ruin (especially in imprecation). noun 1 a basin, wall-mounted or in a sink unit, with built-in water supply and drainage, for washing dishes, etc. 2 a place of immorality, vice and corruption. 3 a cesspool. 4 a depression in a surface. 5 an area without any surface drainage. 6 a depression in the ground where water, etc collects. 7 physics a method, natural or artificial, by which heat, fluid, etc is absorbed or discharged.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon sincan.