sink

[[t]sɪŋk[/t]]

v. sank, often, sunk; sunksunk•en; sink•ing;

1) to fall, drop, or descend gradually to a lower level or position:

The ship sank to the bottom of the sea[/ex]

2) to settle or fall gradually:

The building is sinking[/ex]

3) to fall or collapse slowly from weakness, fatigue, etc.:

He sank to his knees[/ex]

4) cvb to penetrate or permeate; seep

5) to become engulfed in or gradually enter a state:

to sink into slumber[/ex]

6) to become deeply absorbed:

sunk in thought[/ex]

7) to pass or fall into some worse or lower state:

to sink into poverty[/ex]

8) to decline or deteriorate in quality or worth

9) to fail in physical strength or health

10) to become discouraged or depressed:

My heart sank[/ex]

11) to decrease in amount, extent, intensity, etc

12) to become lower in volume, tone, or pitch:

Her voice sank to a whisper[/ex]

13) to slope downward; dip

14) to disappear from sight, as below the horizon

15) to become or appear concave or hollow, as the cheeks

16) navig. to cause to become submerged; force into or below the surface

17) to cause to fall, drop, or descend gradually

18) cvb to cause to penetrate:

to sink an ax into a tree[/ex]

19) civ to lower or depress the level of

20) civ to bury or lay in or as if in the ground

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

22) to bring to a worse or lower state or status

23) to bring to utter ruin or collapse

24) to reduce in amount, extent, intensity, etc

25) to lower in volume or pitch

26) to suppress; ignore

27) to invest with the hope of profit or other return:

He sank all his energy into the business[/ex]

28) to lose (money) in an investment, enterprise, etc

29) spo to hit or propel (a ball) so that it goes through or into a basket, hole, pocket, etc

30) phv sink in, to enter or permeate the mind; become understood:

I repeated it till the words sank in[/ex]

31) a basin, usu. connected with a water supply and drainage system, used for washing

32) gel a low-lying, poorly drained area where waters collect and sink into the ground or evaporate

33) civ gel

sinkhole 2)

34) a place of vice or corruption

35) civ a drain or sewer

36) civ 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

37) civ any pond or pit for sewage or waste

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Etymology: bef. 1000; (v.) ME; OE sincan, c. OS sincan, OHG sinkan, ON søkkva, Go sigqan