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

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) 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.

1

a ) if your spirits sink, you become sad:

After reading the letter, my spirits sank even further.

1

b ) 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 sunk

to be in a bad situation that will bring problems or defeat

sink 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 swim

to be left on your own to succeed or fail, without any help:

It's sink or swim in this business.

sink your teeth into something

1. ) 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 trace

if a boat sinks without trace, it sinks and cannot be found

,sink `in phrasal verb intransitive

to become completely understood:

She had to repeat her words several times before they finally sank in.

sink

sink 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 sink

Just put the dirty dishes in the sink and I'll wash them later.