Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Sink?

\Sink\ (s[i^][ng]k), n. The lowest part of a natural hollow or closed basin whence the water of one or more streams escapes by evaporation; as, the sink of the Humboldt River. [Western U. S.]
\Sink\, v. i. [imp. {Sunk}, or ({Sank}); p. p. {Sunk} (obs. {Sunken}, -- now used as adj.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Sinking}.] [OE. sinken, AS. sincan; akin to D. zinken, OS. sincan, G. sinken, Icel. s["o]kkva, Dan. synke, Sw. sjunka, Goth. siggan, and probably to E. silt. Cf. {Silt}.] 1. To fall by, or as by, the force of gravity; to descend lower and lower; to decline gradually; to subside; as, a stone sinks in water; waves rise and sink; the sun sinks in the west. I sink in deep mire. --Ps. lxix. 2. 2. To enter deeply; to fall or retire beneath or below the surface; to penetrate. The stone sunk into his forehead. --1 San. xvii. 49. 3. Hence, to enter so as to make an abiding impression; to enter completely. Let these sayings sink down into your ears. --Luke ix. 44. 4. To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fall slowly, as so the ground, from weakness or from an overburden; to fail in strength; to decline; to decay; to decrease. I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. --Shak. He sunk down in his chariot. --2 Kings ix. 24. Let not the fire sink or slacken. --Mortimer. 5. To decrease in volume, as a river; to subside; to become diminished in volume or in apparent height. The Alps and Pyreneans sink before him. --Addison. Syn: To fall; subside; drop; droop; lower; decline; decay; decrease; lessen.
\Sink\, v. t. 1. To cause to sink; to put under water; to immerse or submerge in a fluid; as, to sink a ship. [The Athenians] fell upon the wings and sank a single ship. --Jowett (Thucyd.). 2. Figuratively: To cause to decline; to depress; to degrade; hence, to ruin irretrievably; to destroy, as by drowping; as, to sink one's reputation. I raise of sink, imprison or set free. --Prior. If I have a conscience, let it sink me. --Shak. Thy cruel and unnatural lust of power Has sunk thy father more than all his years. --Rowe. 3. To make (a depression) by digging, delving, or cutting, etc.; as, to sink a pit or a well; to sink a die. 4. To bring low; to reduce in quantity; to waste. You sunk the river repeated draughts. --Addison. 5. To conseal and appropriate. [Slang] If sent with ready money to buy anything, and you happen to be out of pocket, sink the money, and take up the goods on account. --Swift. 6. To keep out of sight; to suppress; to ignore. A courtly willingness to sink obnoxious truths. --Robertson. 7. To reduce or extinguish by payment; as, to sink the national debt.
\Sink\, n. 1. A drain to carry off filthy water; a jakes. 2. A shallow box or vessel of wood, stone, iron, or other material, connected with a drain, and used for receiving filthy water, etc., as in a kitchen. 3. A hole or low place in land or rock, where waters sink and are lost; -- called also {sink hole}. [U. S.] {Sink hole}. (a) The opening to a sink drain. (b) A cesspool. (c) Same as {Sink}, n., 3.