Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense dips, present participle dipping, past tense, past participle dipped
1. verb
If you dip something in a liquid, you put it into the liquid for a short time, so that only part of it iscovered, and take it out again.
They dip the food into the sauce. [V n into/in n]
Quickly dip the base in and out of cold water. [V n + into/in]
Synonyms: plunge, immerse, bathe, duck More Synonyms of dip
Dip is also a noun.
One dip into the bottle should do an entire nail.
2. verb
If you dip your hand into a container or dipinto the container, you put your hand into it in order to take something out of it.
She dipped a hand into the jar of sweets and pulled one out. [VERB noun + into]
Watch your fingers as you dip into the pot. [VERB + into]
Ask the children to guess what's in each container by dipping their hands in. [V n with in]
3. verb
If something dips, it makes a downward movement, usually quite quickly.
Blake jumped in expertly; the boat dipped slightly under his weight. [VERB]
The sun dipped below the horizon. [VERB preposition]
Synonyms: drop (down), set, fall, lower More Synonyms of dip
Dip is also a noun.
I noticed little things, a dip of the head, a twitch in the shoulder.
4. verb
If an area of land, a road, or a path dips, it goes down quite suddenly to a lower level.
The road dipped and rose again. [VERB]
...a path which suddenly dips down into a tunnel. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: slope, drop (down), descend, fall More Synonyms of dip
Dip is also a noun.
Where the road makes a dip, turn right.
5. verb
When farmers dip sheep or other farm animals, they put them into a container of liquid with chemicalsin it, in order to kill harmful insects which live on the animals' bodies.
Their father was helping to dip the sheep. [VERB noun]
dippinguncountable noun
He digs potatoes and helps with the sheep dipping.
6. uncountable noun [also NOUN in plural, usually supplement NOUN]
Dip is a liquid with chemicals in it which animals or objects can be dipped in to disinfect or clean them.
...sheep dip.
7. verb
If the amount or level of something dips, it becomes smaller or lower, usually only for a short period of time.
Unemployment dipped to 6.9 per cent last month. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The president became more cautious as his popularity dipped. [VERB]
Synonyms: drop, fall, lower, decline More Synonyms of dip
Dip is also a noun.
...the current dip in farm spending. [+ in]
8. variable noun
A dip is a thick creamy sauce. You dip pieces of raw vegetable or biscuits into the sauce and then eat them.
Maybe we could just buy some dips.
...prawns with avocado dip.
Synonyms: sauce, dressing, relish More Synonyms of dip
9. countable noun
If you have or take a dip, you go for a quick swim in the sea, a river, or a swimming pool.
She flicked through a romantic paperback between occasional dips in the pool.
10. verb
If you are driving a car and dip the headlights, you operate a switch that makes them shine downwards, so that they do not shine directly into the eyes of other drivers.
[British]
He dipped his headlights as they came up behind a slow-moving van. [VERB noun]
This picture shows the view from a car using normal dipped lights. [VERB-ed]
regional note: in AM, use dim
11. verb
If you dip into a book, you have a brief look at it without reading or studying it seriously.
...a chance to dip into a wide selection of books on Buddhism. [VERB + into]
12. verb
If you dip into a sum of money that you had intended to save, you use some of it to buy something or pay for something.
Just when she was ready to dip into her savings, Greg hastened to her rescue. [VERB + into]
13. See also lucky dip
14. to dip your toes
More Synonyms of dip
Dip.
Dip. is a written abbreviation for diploma.
dip in British English
(dɪp)
verbWord forms: dips, dipping or dipped
1.
to plunge or be plunged quickly or briefly into a liquid, esp to wet or coat
2. (intransitive)
to undergo a slight decline, esp temporarily
sales dipped in November
3. (intransitive)
to slope downwards
the land dips towards the river
4. (intransitive)
to sink or appear to sink quickly
the sun dipped below the horizon
5. (transitive)
to switch (car headlights) from the main to the lower beam
US and Canadian word: dim
6. (transitive)
a.
to immerse (poultry, sheep, etc) briefly in a liquid chemical to rid them of or prevent infestation by insects, etc
b.
to immerse (grain, vegetables, or wood) in a preservative liquid
7. (transitive)
to stain or dye by immersing in a liquid
8. (transitive)
to baptize (someone) by immersion
9. (transitive)
to plate or galvanize (a metal, etc) by immersion in an electrolyte or electrolytic cell
10. (transitive)
to scoop up (a liquid or something from a liquid) in the hands or in a container
11.
to lower or be lowered briefly
she dipped her knee in a curtsy
12. (transitive)
to make (a candle) by plunging the wick into melted wax
13. (intransitive)
to plunge a container, the hands, etc, into something, esp to obtain or retrieve an object
he dipped in his pocket for money
14. (intr; foll by in or into)
to dabble (in); play (at)
she dipped into black magic
15. (intransitive)
(of an aircraft) to drop suddenly and then regain height
16. (intransitive)
(of a rock stratum or mineral vein) to slope downwards from the horizontal
17. (intransitive; often foll byfor)
(in children's games) to select a leader, etc by reciting any of various rhymes
18. (transitive) slang
to pick (a person's) pocket
noun
19.
the act of dipping or state of being dipped
20.
a brief swim in water
21.
a.
any liquid chemical preparation in which poultry, sheep, etc are dipped
b.
any liquid preservative into which objects, esp of wood, are dipped
22.
a preparation of dyeing agents into which fabric is immersed
23.
a depression, esp in a landscape
24.
something taken up by dipping
25.
a container used for dipping; dipper
26.
a momentary sinking down
27.
the angle of slope of rock strata, fault planes, etc, from the horizontal plane
28. Also called: angle of dip, magnetic dip, inclination
the angle between the direction of the earth's magnetic field and the plane of thehorizon; the angle that a magnetic needle free to swing in a vertical plane makes with the horizontal
29.
a creamy mixture into which pieces of food are dipped before being eaten
30. surveying
the angular distance of the horizon below the plane of observation
31.
a candle made by plunging a wick repeatedly into wax
32.
a momentary loss of altitude when flying
33.
(in gymnastics) a chinning exercise on the parallel bars
34. a slang word for pickpocket
Word origin
Old English dyppan; related to Old High German tupfen to wash, German taufen to baptize; see deep
dip. in British English
or Dip.
abbreviation for
diploma
diploma in British English
(dɪˈpləʊmə)
noun
1.
a document conferring a qualification, recording success in examinations or successful completion of a course of study
2.
an official document that confers an honour or privilege
Dip in American English
Diploma
dip in American English
(dɪp)
verb transitiveWord forms: dipped or Raredipt, ˈdipping
1.
to put into or under liquid for a moment and then quickly take out; immerse
2.
to dye in this way
3.
to clean (sheep, hog, dogs, etc.) by bathing in disinfectant
4.
to make (a candle) by putting a wick repeatedly in melted tallow or wax
5.
to coat, plate, or galvanize by immersion
6.
to get or take out by, or as if by, scooping up with a container, the hand, etc.
7.
to lower and immediately raise again
dip the flag in salute
8. US
to put (snuff) on the gums, as with a snuff stick
verb intransitive
9.
to plunge into a liquid and quickly come out
10.
to sink or seem to sink suddenly
the sun dips into the ocean
11.
to undergo a slight, usually temporary decline
sales dipped in May
12.
to slope down
13.
to lower a container, the hand, etc. into liquid, a receptacle, etc., esp. in order to take something out
often figurative
to dip into one's savings
14.
to read here and there in a book, etc., or inquire into a subject superficially
15. Aeronautics
to drop suddenly before climbing
noun
16.
a dipping or being dipped
17.
a.
a brief plunge into water or other liquid
b.
a brief swim
18.
a liquid into which something is dipped, as for dyeing
19.
whatever is removed by or used in dipping
20.
a candle made by dipping
21.
a.
a downward slope or inclination
b.
the amount of this
22.
a slight hollow
23.
a short downward plunge, as of an airplane
24.
a.
a sweet, liquid sauce for desserts
b. US
a variously flavored, thick, creamy sauce, in which crackers, etc. are dipped to be eaten as appetizers
25. Slang
a pickpocket
26. Geology and Mining
the downward inclination of a stratum or vein, with reference to a horizontal plane
27. Gymnastics
the act of lowering oneself between parallel bars by bending the arms until the chinreaches the bar level, and then raising oneself by straightening the arms
28. Physics
a.
the deviation of a dip needle from the horizontal
b.
the amount of such deviation
29. Surveying
the angular amount by which the horizon is below eye level
Word origin
ME dippen < OE dyppan, to immerse < Gmc *dup-, to be deep: see dimple
More idioms containing
dip
dip into your pocket
dip your toe in the water
Examples of 'dip' in a sentence
dip
Take a dip in the indoor pool and enjoy the relaxed entertainment.
The Sun (2017)
Serve in bowls with a bowl of soy sauce for dipping.
The Sun (2016)
Fortune links you to a lucky dip prize.
The Sun (2017)
Outside our house there is a dip in the road and a gully.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Rose looked to have hit the winner when he unleashed a dipping volley which hit the underside of the bar and bounced over the line.
The Sun (2016)
Nearly 50 people were killed in a stampede on the riverbank at a religious festival when crowds surged forward to see her take a dip.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sweet chilli dipping sauce 1 Cook the noodles according to the packet instructions.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He was to suffer the dip that often follows vertiginous success.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Research a specific topic or just dip in.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You should be able to dip your finger quickly into the liquid without it being uncomfortable.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You can also dip into the capital as fees increase.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
One new series episode dipped below eight million for the first time in almost five years.
The Sun (2012)
The whole point of buying in dips is to pick up assets when they are cheaper.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We took a dip in the sea and felt like the only people left on the planet.
The Sun (2010)
Not just when they fancy a quick dip in the summer.
The Sun (2012)
This is the sauce used for dipping sushi.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Just dip the clutch and it all comes to life again.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Each mouthful is cooled and seasoned when the steak is dipped into two quickly made sauces.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They may also dip down and catch small fish.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But ratings have now dipped to below two million.
The Sun (2012)
The simplest way to avoid such bias is to use a lucky dip and let a computer choose.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Wool can have toxic residues left behind after the sheep have been dipped which can remain in the fibre.
Lashford, Stephanie The Residue Report - an action plan for safer food (1988)
So maybe today's the day to head to the beach and take a dip.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The Wales left back took a touch and hit a stunning dipping volley onto the crossbar.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We'll have two or three good games and then suffer a big dip in the next.
The Sun (2007)
You pull out to overtake but don't see the dip in the road ahead.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Faced with such a monumental lucky dip of shows, the best one can do is try to spot trends and cite highlights.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Each morning I had my dip in the river.
Edward Beauclerk Maurice THE LAST OF THE GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS: Coming of Age in the Arctic (2004)
The share price has dipped since the float but investors have seen annual returns of about 7% thanks to dividends and growth in the portfolio.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
dip
British English: dip /dɪp/ NOUN
A dip is a thick creamy sauce. You dip pieces of raw vegetable or biscuits into the sauce and then eat them.
...avocado dip.
American English: dip food/sauce
Arabic: صَلْصَة
Brazilian Portuguese: molho
Chinese: 蘸酱
Croatian: umak
Czech: omáčka k namáčení
Danish: dip
Dutch: dipsaus
European Spanish: salsa
Finnish: dippikastike
French: sauce à tremper
German: Dip
Greek: ντιπ
Italian: salsa
Japanese: ディップソース food/sauce
Korean: 딥
Norwegian: dip
Polish: sos jedzenie
European Portuguese: molho
Romanian: sos
Russian: соус
Latin American Spanish: salsa para mojar
Swedish: nedsänkning
Thai: การจิ้มน้ำจิ้ม
Turkish: ezme yiyecek
Ukrainian: соус
Vietnamese: nước chấm
British English: dip /dɪp/ VERB
If you dip something into a liquid, you put it in and then quickly take it out again.
They dipped the food into the sauce.
American English: dip
Arabic: يَغْمِس
Brazilian Portuguese: molhar
Chinese: 蘸
Croatian: umočiti
Czech: namočit
Danish: dyppe
Dutch: dippen
European Spanish: mojar
Finnish: kastaa
French: tremper
German: eintauchen
Greek: βυθίζω
Italian: immergere
Japanese: ちょっと浸す
Korean: (...을 ...에) 잠깐 담그다
Norwegian: dyppe
Polish: zanurzyć
European Portuguese: molhar
Romanian: a înmuia
Russian: макать
Latin American Spanish: mojar
Swedish: doppa
Thai: จุ่ม
Turkish: daldırmak
Ukrainian: вмочати
Vietnamese: nhúng
All related terms of 'dip'
dip net
a net attached to the end of a long pole , used to catch fish
dip out
to miss out on or fail to participate in something
dip fault
a fault that runs perpendicular to the strike of the affected rocks (i.e. parallel to the plane of the angle of dip of the rocks)
dip into
to draw (upon)
lucky dip
a lucky dip is a game in which you take a prize out of a container full of hidden prizes and then find out what you have chosen .
sheep-dip
any of several liquid disinfectants and insecticides in which sheep are immersed to kill vermin and germs in their fleece
cheese dip
a creamy mixture made with cheese, for dipping crisps , raw vegetables etc into
dip circle
an instrument for measuring dip , consisting of a dip needle with a vertical circular scale of angles
dip needle
a magnetized needle pivoted through its centre of gravity able to rotate freely in a vertical plane , used to determine the inclination of the earth's magnetic field
dip-netting
the activity of catching fish using a dip-net
double dip
a recession in which a brief recovery in output is followed by another fall, because demand remains low
skinny-dip
If you skinny-dip , you go swimming with no clothes on.
magnetic dip
to plunge or be plunged quickly or briefly into a liquid, esp to wet or coat
slippery dip
a long slide at a playground or funfair
angle of dip
to plunge or be plunged quickly or briefly into a liquid, esp to wet or coat
dip the flag
to salute by lowering a flag briefly
dip-and-scarp
(of topography ) characterized by alternating steeper scarp slopes and gentler dip slopes
dip one's lid
to raise one's hat as a greeting , etc
dip-slip fault
a fault on which the movement is in the direction of the dip of the fault
dip one's toe in
to begin doing or try something new or unfamiliar
to dip your toes
If you dip your toes into something or dip your toes into the waters of something, you start doing that thing slowly and carefully, because you are not sure whether it will be successful or whether you will like it.
dimmer switch
A dimmer switch is an electrical switch which turns off the full beam of a headlamp and turns on the low beam.
dipping needle
a magnetized needle pivoted through its centre of gravity able to rotate freely in a vertical plane, used to determine the inclination of the earth's magnetic field
dip into your pocket
to pay for something with your own money
dip your toe in the water
to start doing something that you have not done before in a slow and careful way because you are not sure if you will like it or if it will be successful
dipping
to plunge or be plunged quickly or briefly into a liquid, esp to wet or coat
Chinese translation of 'dip'
dip
(dɪp)
vt
(into liquid)[bread, spoon, finger]蘸 (zhàn)
(into container)[hand]伸进(進) (shēnjìn)
(Brit)[headlights]使 ... 变(變)暗 (shǐ ... biàn'àn)
美 = dim
vi
[ground, road]倾(傾)斜 (qīngxié)
[boat]下降 (xiàjiàng)
to dip into sth[container]伸进(進)某物 (shēnjìn mǒuwù) [book]翻阅(閱)某物 (fānyuè mǒuwù) [savings]动(動)用某物 (dòngyòng mǒuwù)
(= decrease, fall) 下降 (xiàjiàng)
n
(c) (= slope) 斜坡 (xiépō) (条(條), tiáo)
(= swim)
to take a dip/go for a dip下下水 (xiàxiàshuǐ)
(c/u) (= sauce) 奶油沙司 (nǎiyóu shāsī)
(c) (= decrease) 下降 (xiàjiàng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to immerse (farm animals) briefly in a chemical to rid them of insects
Dip the food into the sauce.
Synonyms
plunge
She plunged her face into a bowl of cold water.
immerse
The electrodes are immersed in liquid.
bathe
small ponds for the birds to bathe in
duck
She splashed around in the pool trying to duck him.
rinse
After washing always rinse the hair in clear water.
douse
They doused him in petrol.
dunk
souse
2 (verb)
Definition
to lower or be lowered briefly
The sun dipped below the horizon.
Synonyms
drop (down)
set
The sun sets at about 4pm in winter.
fall
lower
disappear
sink
fade
After that all her worries faded away.
slump
I closed the door and slumped into a chair.
descend
tilt
subside
Local officials say the flood waters have subsided.
sag
The shirt's cuffs won't sag and lose their shape after washing.
droop
Support for him is beginning to droop amongst voters.
3 (verb)
Definition
to slope downwards
a path which suddenly dips down into a tunnel
Synonyms
slope
The garden sloped quite steeply.
drop (down)
descend
The path descended steeply to the rushing river.
fall
decline
pitch
He pitched head-first over the low wall.
sink
You know who you are, be proud of it and don't sink to his level.
incline
drop away
4 (verb)
Definition
to undergo a slight decline, esp. temporarily
Unemployment dipped to 6.9 per cent last month.
Synonyms
drop
The ground dropped away steeply.
fall
The fisherman fell into the sea during a storm.
lower
They lowered the boat into the water.
decline
a declining birth rate
sink
Far off to the west the sun was sinking.
dive
He tried to escape by diving into a river.
diminish
Federalism is intended to diminish the power of the central state.
tumble
The dog had tumbled down the cliff.
descend
Disaster struck as the plane descended through the mist.
5 (verb)
Definition
to switch (car headlights) from the main to the lower beam
He dipped the headlights of his car.
Synonyms
dim
Dim the overhead lights.
dull
turn down
darken
A storm darkened the sky.
bedim
1 (noun)
Definition
the act of dipping
Freshen the salad leaves with a quick dip into cold water.
Synonyms
plunge
a refreshing plunge into cold water
ducking
soaking
drenching
immersion
The wood had become swollen from prolonged immersion.
douche
submersion
2 (noun)
Definition
a momentary sinking down
She acknowledged me with a slight dip of the head.
Synonyms
nod
drop
lowering
slump
sag
3 (noun)
Definition
a depression, esp. in a landscape
Turn right where the road makes a dip.
Synonyms
hollow
where water gathers in a hollow and forms a pond
hole
He took a shovel, dug a hole, and buried his possessions.
depression
an area pockmarked by rainfilled depressions
pit
He could see shallow pits in her skin.
basin
countries around the Pacific Basin
dent
There was a dent in the bonnet of the car.
trough
indentation
With a knife make slight indentations around the pastry.
concavity
4 (noun)
Definition
a liquid chemical in which farm animals are dipped
sheep dip
Synonyms
mixture
a mixture of spiced, grilled vegetables
solution
a warm solution of liquid detergent
preparation
a specially formulated natural skin preparation
suspension
infusion
a pleasing herbal infusion
concoction
This concoction helps to control skin blemishes.
dilution
5 (noun)
the current dip in farm spending
Synonyms
drop
He was prepared to take a drop in wages.
cut
The economy needs an immediate two per cent cut in interest rates.
reduction
a future reduction in interest rates
lowering
decline
The first signs of economic decline became visible.
slump
a slump in property prices
decrease
There has been a decrease in the number of young unemployed people.
fall-off
downturn
6 (noun)
Definition
a creamy mixture into which pieces of food are dipped before being eaten
prawns with avocado dip
Synonyms
sauce
pasta cooked in a sauce of garlic
dressing
Mix the salad dressing in a bowl
relish
pots of spicy relish
7 (noun)
Definition
a brief swim
Let's have a dip in the pool.
Synonyms
bathe (British)
an early-morning bathe
swim
When can we go for a swim, Mam?
plunge
dive
He made a sudden dive towards the man's legs.
splash
paddle
phrasal verb
See dip into something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of basin
Definition
a depression in the earth's surface
countries around the Pacific Basin
Synonyms
bed,
depression,
trough,
concavity
in the sense of concoction
This concoction helps to control skin blemishes.
Synonyms
mixture,
preparation,
compound,
brew,
combination,
creation,
blend
in the sense of cut
Definition
a reduction
The economy needs an immediate two per cent cut in interest rates.