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adjective
2.
having settled to a lower level, as walls.
3.
situated or lying on a lower level: a sunken living room.
4.
hollow; depressed: sunken cheeks.
verb
5.
Obsolete. a past participle of sink.
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Sunken
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
| to bark; yelp. |
Related forms
half-sunk·en, adjective
un·sunk·en, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
verb (used without object)
1.
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 followed 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.
EXPANDto 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 followed 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 followed by in or into): to sink into slumber.
9.
to be or become deeply absorbed or involved in a mood or mental state (usually followed 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 followed 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.
COLLAPSEto 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.
EXPANDto 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.
COLLAPSESports.
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
Idiom32.
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.
EXPANDa 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.
COLLAPSEany natural process by which contaminants are removed from the atmosphere.
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:
before 1000; (v.) Middle English sinken, Old English sincan; cognate with Dutch zinken, German sinken, Old Norse sǫkkva, Gothic singkwan; (noun) late Middle English: cesspool, derivative of the v.
before 1000; (v.) Middle English sinken, Old English sincan; cognate with Dutch zinken, German sinken, Old Norse sǫkkva, Gothic singkwan; (noun) late Middle English: cesspool, derivative of the v.
Related forms
sink·a·ble, adjective
sink·like, adjective
half-sink·ing, adjective
non·sink·a·ble, adjective
self-sink·ing, adjective
EXPAND
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To sunken
Collins
World English Dictionary
| sunken (ˈsʌŋkən) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | a past participle of sink |
| —adj | |
| 2. | unhealthily hollow: sunken cheeks |
| 3. | situated at a lower level than the surrounding or usual one |
| 4. | situated under water; submerged |
| 5. | depressed; low: sunken spirits |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
sink
1413, "pool or pit for wastewater or sewage," from sink (v.). Sense of "shallow basin with drainpipe" first recorded 1566.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
sink  (sĭngk) Pronunciation Key
|
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
sink definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.