sinking definition | Dictionary.com

sink

[singk]

verb, sank or, often, sunk; sunk or sunk⋅en; sink⋅ing; noun

–verb (used without object)

to displace part of the volume of a supporting substance or object and become totally or partially submerged or enveloped; fall or descend into or below the surface or to the bottom (often fol. by in or into): The battleship sank within two hours. His foot sank in the mud. Her head sinks into the pillows.

2.	to fall, drop, or descend gradually to a lower level: The river sank two feet during the dry spell.

3.	to settle or fall gradually, as a heavy structure: The tower is slowly sinking.

4.	to fall or collapse slowly from weakness, fatigue, distress, etc.: He gasped and sank to his knees.

5.	to slope downward; dip: The field sinks toward the highway.

6.	to go down toward or below the horizon: the sun sinks in the west.

7.	to penetrate, permeate, or seep (usually fol. by in or into): Wipe the oil off before it sinks into the wood.

8.	to become engulfed or absorbed in or gradually to enter a state (usually fol. by in or into): to sink into slumber.

9.	to be or become deeply absorbed or involved in a mood or mental state (usually fol. by in or into): sunk in thought. She sank into despair.

10.	to pass or fall into some lower state, as of fortune, estimation, etc.; degenerate: to sink into poverty.

11.	to decline or deteriorate in quality or worth.

12.	to fail in physical strength or health.

13.	to decrease in amount, extent, intensity, etc.: The temperature sank to 30° at noon.

14.	to become lower in volume, tone, or pitch: Her voice sank to a whisper.

15.	to enter or permeate the mind; become known or understood (usually fol. by in or into): He said it four times before the words really sank in.

16.	to become concave; become hollow, as the cheeks.

17.	to drop or fall gradually into a lower position: He sank down on the bench.

–verb (used with object)

18.	to cause to become submerged or enveloped; force into or below the surface; cause to plunge in or down: The submarine sank the battleship. He sank his fist into the pillow.

19.	to cause to fall, drop, or descend gradually.

20.	to cause to penetrate: to sink an ax into a tree trunk.

21.	to lower or depress the level of: They sank the roadway by five feet.

22.	to bury, plant, or lay (a pipe, conduit, etc.) into or as if into the ground.

23.	to dig, bore, or excavate (a hole, shaft, well, etc.).

24.	to bring to a worse or lower state or status.

25.	to bring to utter ruin or collapse: Drinking and gambling sank him completely.

26.	to reduce in amount, extent, intensity, etc.

27.	to lower in volume, tone, or pitch.

28.	to suppress; ignore; omit.

29.	to invest in the hope of making a profit or gaining some other return: He sank all his efforts into the business.

30.	to lose (money) in an unfortunate investment, enterprise, etc.

31.

Sports.

a.	to throw, shoot, hit, or propel (a ball) so that it goes through or into the basket, hole, pocket, etc.: She sank the 10 ball into the side pocket.

b.	to execute (a stroke or throw) so that the ball goes through or into the basket, hole, pocket, etc.: to sink a putt; to sink a free throw.

–noun

32.	a basin or receptacle, as in a kitchen or laundry, usually connected with a water supply and drainage system, for washing dishes, clothing, etc.

33.	a low-lying, poorly drained area where waters collect and sink into the ground or evaporate.

34.	sinkhole (def. 2).

35.	a place of vice or corruption.

36.	a drain or sewer.

37.	a device or place for disposing of energy within a system, as a power-consuming device in an electrical circuit or a condenser in a steam engine.

38.	any pond or pit for sewage or waste, as a cesspool or a pool for industrial wastes.

39.	any natural process by which contaminants are removed from the atmosphere.

—Idiom

40.

sink one's teeth into,

a.	to bite deeply or vigorously.

b.	to do or enter into with great enthusiasm, concentration, conviction, etc.: to sink my teeth into solving the problem.

Origin:
bef. 1000; (v.) ME sinken, OE sincan; c. D zinken, G sinken, ON sǫkkva, Goth singkwan; (n.) late ME: cesspool, deriv. of the v.

Related forms:

sink⋅a⋅ble, adjective

sinklike, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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sink (sĭngk)

v. sank (sāngk) or sunk (sŭngk), sunk, sink·ing, sinks

v. intr.

To descend to the bottom; submerge.
1. To fall or drop to a lower level, especially to go down slowly or in stages: The water in the lake sank several feet during the long, dry summer.
2. To subside or settle gradually, as a massive or weighty structure.
3. To deteriorate in quality or condition: The patient is sinking fast. The family sank into a state of disgrace.
4. To diminish, as in value.
5. To drop or fall slowly, as from weakness or fatigue: The exhausted runner sank to the ground.
6. To feel great disappointment or discouragement: Her heart sank within her.
To appear to move downward, as the sun or moon in setting.
To slope downward; incline.
To pass into a specified condition: She sank into a deep sleep.
1. To deteriorate in quality or condition: The patient is sinking fast. The family sank into a state of disgrace.
2. To diminish, as in value.
3. To drop or fall slowly, as from weakness or fatigue: The exhausted runner sank to the ground.
4. To feel great disappointment or discouragement: Her heart sank within her.
To become weaker, quieter, or less forceful: His voice sank to a whisper.
1. To drop or fall slowly, as from weakness or fatigue: The exhausted runner sank to the ground.
2. To feel great disappointment or discouragement: Her heart sank within her.
To seep or soak; penetrate: The water is sinking into the ground.
To make an impression; become felt or understood: The meaning finally sank in.

v. tr.

To cause to descend beneath a surface: sink a ship.
To cause to drop or lower: sank the bucket into the well.
To force into the ground: sink a piling.
To dig or drill (a mine or well) in the earth.
To occupy the full attention of; engross.
1. To make weaker, quieter, or less forceful.
2. To reduce in quantity or worth.
3. To invest: sink money into a new housing project.
4. To invest without any prospect of return.
To debase the nature of; degrade.
To bring to a low or ruined state; defeat or destroy.
To suppress or hide: He sank his arrogance and apologized.
Informal To defeat, as in a game.
1. To invest: sink money into a new housing project.
2. To invest without any prospect of return.
To pay off (a debt).
Sports To get (a ball) into a hole or basket.

A water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe and generally a piped supply of water.
A cesspool.
A sinkhole.
A natural or artificial means of absorbing or removing a substance or a form of energy from a system.
A place regarded as wicked and corrupt.

[Middle English sinken, from Old English sincan.]
sink'a·ble adj.

Sinking

Sink"ing\, a. & n. from Sink.

Sinking fund. See under Fund.

Sinking head (Founding), a riser from which the mold is fed as the casting shrinks. See Riser, n., 4.

Sinking pump, a pump which can be lowered in a well or a mine shaft as the level of the water sinks.

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