- sink
- sink1 [ sıŋk ] (past tense sank [ sæŋk ] ; past participle sunk [ sʌŋk ] ) verb **▸ 1 go below water's surface▸ 2 when sun gets lower▸ 3 move to lower level▸ 4 fall/sit/lie down▸ 5 go down in value/amount▸ 6 invest money▸ 7 push something sharp into something▸ 8 put ball in hole in game▸ 9 do something wrong▸ 10 become worse/sad▸ 11 become quiet▸ + PHRASES1. ) intransitive to disappear below the surface of the water:The ship sank off the coast of Newfoundland during a storm.Do you think the cork will float or sink?a ) transitive to make something, especially a boat, disappear below the surface of the water:The enemy sank three ships last night.b ) intransitive to go below the surface of a soft substance:sink into: Our feet sank into the mud as we walked.2. ) intransitive when the sun sinks, it gets lower in the sky until it disappears:The sun was sinking in the west.3. ) intransitive to move to a lower level:The water level in the lake had sunk by several feet.The porch on the old house was beginning to sink.4. ) intransitive to fall, sit, or lie down:sink into: When I got home, all I wanted to do was sink into a hot bath.sink to your knees: He sank to his knees and begged for forgiveness.sink to: The wounded deer sank to the ground.5. ) intransitive to go down in value or amount:The dollar sank even lower yesterday on world markets.sink to: Agricultural production had sunk to its lowest level in years.6. ) transitive to invest money in something because you hope you will make more money:We've sunk several thousand dollars into the project so far.7. ) transitive to push something sharp into something solid:The cat sank its claws into my leg.8. ) transitive in games such as golf or POOL, to put a ball into a hole:He only has to sink the pink ball to win the game.9. ) intransitive to do something wrong:sink so low (as to): I never thought he would sink so low as to lie to me about it.sink to (doing) something: How could you sink to stealing money from your own mother?10. ) intransitive to become worse:sinking fast: The patient is sinking fast and may not last through the night.sink into crisis/chaos: Without a stable central government, the country is sinking into crisis.sink into despair: As the search went on, Simon began to sink into despair.1a ) if your spirits sink, you become sad:After reading the letter, my spirits sank even further.1b ) if your heart sinks, you lose hope:Her heart sank when she heard the result.11. ) intransitive to become quiet:Their voices sank to a whisper.be sunkto be in a bad situation that will bring problems or defeatsink a mine/well/hole etc.to dig a deep hole in the ground:Drilling companies are beginning to sink exploratory wells in the area.sink or swimto be left on your own to succeed or fail, without any help:It's sink or swim in this business.sink your teeth into something1. ) to take a bite of something good to eat:He couldn't wait to sink his teeth into the steak.2. ) to get very involved in something:What I'm looking for is a project I can really sink my teeth into.sink without traceif a boat sinks without trace, it sinks and cannot be found,sink `in phrasal verb intransitiveto become completely understood:She had to repeat her words several times before they finally sank in.sinksink 2 [ sıŋk ] noun count **a large open container for water, usually attached to a wall and connected to pipes that bring the water and carry it away:a kitchen/bathroom/laundry sinkJust put the dirty dishes in the sink and I'll wash them later.
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.