Dip

Pronunciation

• enPR: dÄ­p, IPA: /dɪp/
• Rhymes: -ɪp

From Middle English dippen, from Old English dyppan, from Proto-Germanic *dupjanÄ…. Compare Dutch dopen, German taufen.

Full definition of dip

Noun

1. A lower section of a road or geological feature.There is a dip in the road ahead.
2. Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope; pitch.
3. The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid.
• Gloverthe dip of oars in unison
4. A tank or trough where cattle or sheep are immersed in chemicals to kill parasites.
5. A dip stick.
6. A swim, usually a short swim to refresh.I'm going for a dip before breakfast.
7. (colloquial, dated) A pickpocket.
• 1906, Fred L. Boalt, "The Snitcher", McClure's Magazine v.26, p.633The Moocher was a "dip" in a dilettante sort of way, and his particular graft was boarding street-cars with his papers and grabbing women's pocket-books.
8. A sauce for dipping.This onion dip is just scrumptious.
9. (geology) The angle from horizontal of a planar geologic surface, such as a fault line.
10. (archaic) A dipped candle.

Derived terms

• lucky dip

Verb

1. (transitive) To lower into a liquid.Dip your biscuit into your tea.
• 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula Chapter 21He dipped the end of a towel in cold water and with it began to flick him on the face, his wife all the while holding her face between her hands and sobbing in a way that was heart breaking to hear.
2. (intransitive) To immerse oneself; to become plunged in a liquid; to sink.
• ColeridgeThe sun's rim dips; the stars rush out.
3. (intransitive) (of a value or rate) To decrease slightly.
4. (transitive) To lower a light's beam.Dip your lights as you meet an oncoming car.
5. (transitive) To lower (a flag), particularly a national ensign, to a partially hoisted position in order to render or to return a salute. While lowered, the flag is said to be “at the dip.” A flag being carried on a staff may be dipped by leaning it forward at an approximate angle of 45 degrees.“The sailor rushed to the flag hoist to dip the flag in return.”
6. (transitive) To treat cattle or sheep by immersion in chemical solution.The farmer is going to dip the cattle today.
7. (transitive) To use a dip stick to check oil level in an engine.
8. To consume snuff by placing a pinch behind the lip or under the tongue so that the active chemical constituents of the snuff may be absorbed into the system for their narcotic effect.
9. To immerse for baptism.
10. To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten.
• MiltonA cold shuddering dew
  Dips me all o'er.
11. To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair.
• DrydenHe was ... dipt in the rebellion of the Commons.
12. To take out, by dipping a dipper, ladle, or other receptacle, into a fluid and removing a part; often with out.to dip water from a boiler; to dip out water
13. (intransitive) To perform the action of plunging a dipper, ladle. etc. into a liquid or soft substance and removing a part.
• L'EstrangeWhoever dips too deep will find death in the pot.
14. To engage as a pledge; to mortgage.
• DrydenLive on the use and never dip thy lands.
15. (intransitive) To incline downward from the plane of the horizon.Strata of rock dip.

Derived terms

• dipper
• you don't dip your pen in company ink

Back-formation from {{3}}

Noun

1. A foolish person.

Anagrams

• DPI, dpi, IDP, PDI, PID